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Liam Taggart & Catherine Lockhart #6
Defending Britta Stein
A story of bravery, betrayal, and redemption—from the winner of the National Jewish Book Award.
Chicago, 2018: Ole Henryks, a popular restauranteur, is set to be honored by the Danish/American Association for his many civic and charitable contributions. Frequently appearing on local TV, he is well known for his actions in Nazi-occupied Denmark during World War II—most consider him a hero.
Britta Stein, however, does not. The ninety-year-old Chicago woman levels public accusations against Henryks by spray-painting “Coward,” “Traitor,” “Collaborator,” and “War Criminal” on the walls of his restaurant. Mrs. Stein is ultimately taken into custody and charged with criminal defacement of property. She also becomes the target of a bitter lawsuit filed by Henryks and his son, accusing her of defamation and intentional infliction of emotional distress.
Attorney Catherine Lockhart, though hesitant at first, agrees to take up Mrs. Stein's defense. With the help of her investigator husband, Liam Taggart, Lockhart must reach back into wartime Denmark and locate evidence that proves Mrs. Stein's innocence. Defending Britta Stein is critically-acclaimed author Ronald H. Balson's thrilling take on a modern day courtroom drama, and a masterful rendition of Denmark’s wartime heroics.
Chicago, 2018: Ole Henryks, a popular restauranteur, is set to be honored by the Danish/American Association for his many civic and charitable contributions. Frequently appearing on local TV, he is well known for his actions in Nazi-occupied Denmark during World War II—most consider him a hero.
Britta Stein, however, does not. The ninety-year-old Chicago woman levels public accusations against Henryks by spray-painting “Coward,” “Traitor,” “Collaborator,” and “War Criminal” on the walls of his restaurant. Mrs. Stein is ultimately taken into custody and charged with criminal defacement of property. She also becomes the target of a bitter lawsuit filed by Henryks and his son, accusing her of defamation and intentional infliction of emotional distress.
Attorney Catherine Lockhart, though hesitant at first, agrees to take up Mrs. Stein's defense. With the help of her investigator husband, Liam Taggart, Lockhart must reach back into wartime Denmark and locate evidence that proves Mrs. Stein's innocence. Defending Britta Stein is critically-acclaimed author Ronald H. Balson's thrilling take on a modern day courtroom drama, and a masterful rendition of Denmark’s wartime heroics.
352 pages, ebook
First published September 7, 2021
573 people are currently reading
9270 people want to read
About the author
Ronald H. Balson
13 books1,874 followersWhen 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.
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.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 559 reviews
August 19, 2021
Defending Britta Stein by Ronald H. Balson was a very powerful and captivating novel of historical fiction. I have read and have been quite impressed by all of the books that Ronald H. Balson has written and Defending Britta Stein was no exception. Ronald H. Balson has the immense talent to create vivid and memorable characters, a complex plot and set them within the boundaries of a time in history to recreate what happened long ago in an engaging way. Defending Britta Stein brought back the characters of Catherine Lockhart and Liam Taggart, the husband and wife team of lawyer and investigator. They have notoriously accepted and defended the most difficult and hard to win cases over the years and defending Britta Stein could be perhaps their most challenging case so far. The book, Defending Britta Stein, was told alternating between present day Chicago (2018) and Britta’s oral account of her memories of her homeland of Denmark prior to the presence of the Nazis and during World War II.
Britta Stein was a ninety-two year old woman and Bubbe on a mission to prove that Ole Henryks was not a war hero but in fact a “coward”, “traitor”, “collaborator “, and “war criminal”. It had been over 70 years since Britta had heard of or saw Ole. Britta had known Ole as Ole Hendrickson in Denmark. He must have changed his name when he arrived in America but she was sure that he was the same person that had destroyed her family and had carried out traitorous acts and had belonged to a Nazi sponsored organization. She had no idea that he had been living in Chicago all this time. When a newspaper revealed that he was to be honored by The Danish/American Association for his heroic and brave acts during World War II, Britta knew she had to let everyone know the truth about Ole. She could not allow him to be honored as a hero. Only she knew the truth about him and she had to let everyone else know who Ole really was back in Denmark during World War II. Britta decided that the best way to get her message out was to spray paint the words that described his character on the outside walls of his beloved and popular restaurant, The Melancholy Dane. Over the course of several nights, 92 year old Britta Stein, spray painted the words “coward”, “traitor “, “collaborator “ and “war criminal “ on the walls of Ole’s restaurant. Britta accomplished these feats late at night when the streets were deserted. A newly acquired surveillance camera finally captured her in the act. Britta was taken into custody and charged with criminal defacement of property. Ole and his son brought a lawsuit against Britta. The people of Chicago admired Ole for his civic and charitable contributions over the years. Why was this crazy old woman accusing Ole of these terrible things and especially now? Ole had always been looked up to as a hero and for saving the lives of so many Jewish Danes when the Nazis inflicted the deportation orders. It was only right that The Danish/American Association was honoring Ole and admitting him into their Hall of Fame. For these reasons, Ole and his son, brought a lawsuit against Britta for deformation and intentional inflection of emotional distress. After all, Ole was ninety-five years old and had been in this country since 1947. Britta and her beloved granddaughter, Emma, hoped that Catherine Lockhart and Liam Taggart would help Britta prove that Ole was indeed the traitor and war criminal he was. Would Catherine agree to take on Britta’s case and if so would Liam be able to gather enough physical evidence to prove that Britta was right in her accusations?
All the characters in Defending Britta Stein were fictional but Denmark’s role and story was accurately depicted in this book. In the acknowledgement section of Defending Britta Stein, Ronald H. Balson described the inspiring reaction the people of Denmark had to the Nazi deportation orders for their Jewish countrymen. “As a country, they came together to hide, protect and ultimately rescue 7,200 of their Jewish brethren from certain death.” It was so emotional to read how as country, and the only country in all of Europe, the Danes banned together to save their fellow Jewish countrymen. Those brave Danes were honored at Yad Vashem Holocaust Museum in the Garden of the Righteous Among Nations. Some of the people mentioned in Defending Britta Stein were real people. There were several Danish members of Parliament who went on to serve Denmark as Prime Ministers. Many of the German Nazi SS were real and played significant roles in Denmark’s history during World War II. There were actually several very brave young Danes who were part of the youth resistance clubs. The Churchill Club and Hvidsten Clubs were so important in sabotaging bridges, munition and trains that carried war essentials to Germany. Ronald H. Balson succeeded in writing another captivating and powerful novel. I highly recommend this book.
Thank you to St. Martin’s Press through Netgalley for allowing me to read this advanced copy of Defending Britta Stein. All opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. Publication is set for September 7, 2021.
Britta Stein was a ninety-two year old woman and Bubbe on a mission to prove that Ole Henryks was not a war hero but in fact a “coward”, “traitor”, “collaborator “, and “war criminal”. It had been over 70 years since Britta had heard of or saw Ole. Britta had known Ole as Ole Hendrickson in Denmark. He must have changed his name when he arrived in America but she was sure that he was the same person that had destroyed her family and had carried out traitorous acts and had belonged to a Nazi sponsored organization. She had no idea that he had been living in Chicago all this time. When a newspaper revealed that he was to be honored by The Danish/American Association for his heroic and brave acts during World War II, Britta knew she had to let everyone know the truth about Ole. She could not allow him to be honored as a hero. Only she knew the truth about him and she had to let everyone else know who Ole really was back in Denmark during World War II. Britta decided that the best way to get her message out was to spray paint the words that described his character on the outside walls of his beloved and popular restaurant, The Melancholy Dane. Over the course of several nights, 92 year old Britta Stein, spray painted the words “coward”, “traitor “, “collaborator “ and “war criminal “ on the walls of Ole’s restaurant. Britta accomplished these feats late at night when the streets were deserted. A newly acquired surveillance camera finally captured her in the act. Britta was taken into custody and charged with criminal defacement of property. Ole and his son brought a lawsuit against Britta. The people of Chicago admired Ole for his civic and charitable contributions over the years. Why was this crazy old woman accusing Ole of these terrible things and especially now? Ole had always been looked up to as a hero and for saving the lives of so many Jewish Danes when the Nazis inflicted the deportation orders. It was only right that The Danish/American Association was honoring Ole and admitting him into their Hall of Fame. For these reasons, Ole and his son, brought a lawsuit against Britta for deformation and intentional inflection of emotional distress. After all, Ole was ninety-five years old and had been in this country since 1947. Britta and her beloved granddaughter, Emma, hoped that Catherine Lockhart and Liam Taggart would help Britta prove that Ole was indeed the traitor and war criminal he was. Would Catherine agree to take on Britta’s case and if so would Liam be able to gather enough physical evidence to prove that Britta was right in her accusations?
All the characters in Defending Britta Stein were fictional but Denmark’s role and story was accurately depicted in this book. In the acknowledgement section of Defending Britta Stein, Ronald H. Balson described the inspiring reaction the people of Denmark had to the Nazi deportation orders for their Jewish countrymen. “As a country, they came together to hide, protect and ultimately rescue 7,200 of their Jewish brethren from certain death.” It was so emotional to read how as country, and the only country in all of Europe, the Danes banned together to save their fellow Jewish countrymen. Those brave Danes were honored at Yad Vashem Holocaust Museum in the Garden of the Righteous Among Nations. Some of the people mentioned in Defending Britta Stein were real people. There were several Danish members of Parliament who went on to serve Denmark as Prime Ministers. Many of the German Nazi SS were real and played significant roles in Denmark’s history during World War II. There were actually several very brave young Danes who were part of the youth resistance clubs. The Churchill Club and Hvidsten Clubs were so important in sabotaging bridges, munition and trains that carried war essentials to Germany. Ronald H. Balson succeeded in writing another captivating and powerful novel. I highly recommend this book.
Thank you to St. Martin’s Press through Netgalley for allowing me to read this advanced copy of Defending Britta Stein. All opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. Publication is set for September 7, 2021.
December 12, 2024
In today’s world we have witnessed many antisemitic acts towards Jewish people. The hatred and racism against many have been rancid, and it behooves us to pay attention.
This book gives us an interesting perspective with character Britta Stern. She is a 92-year-old woman who takes things in her own hands by painting words on a 95-year-old Chicago restauranteur’s building calling him a “traitor,” “collaborator,” “coward,” and “war criminal,” just as he is supposed to be honored as a hero during WWII against the Nazis by the Danish/American Association.
Why doesn’t she see him as a hero?
Her attorney has 30 days to prove that Britta’s words against this man are true.
In the mean time we as readers go back through Britta’s history, as her attorney and team seek the truth.
Pay attention.
What truth will we discover in the end?
Post note: It is interesting as I review this to add shelves today (November 18, 2023) how I can't believe my first sentences still ring true today. I can't help but feel such sadness for our world.
This book gives us an interesting perspective with character Britta Stern. She is a 92-year-old woman who takes things in her own hands by painting words on a 95-year-old Chicago restauranteur’s building calling him a “traitor,” “collaborator,” “coward,” and “war criminal,” just as he is supposed to be honored as a hero during WWII against the Nazis by the Danish/American Association.
Why doesn’t she see him as a hero?
Her attorney has 30 days to prove that Britta’s words against this man are true.
In the mean time we as readers go back through Britta’s history, as her attorney and team seek the truth.
Pay attention.
What truth will we discover in the end?
Post note: It is interesting as I review this to add shelves today (November 18, 2023) how I can't believe my first sentences still ring true today. I can't help but feel such sadness for our world.
April 24, 2022
Catherine Lockhart and Detective Liam Taggart are back, and now they have a two year old son Ben, (sweet) given Book One of the Once We Were Brothers Series, when they first met.
In 2020 I did this series as my series of the year, and followed this couple and author. I really loved every single one of them, although I admit that by the fifth one, I was kind of tired of the title characters. But they have all been runaway hits with me, and this one was no exception, and with plenty of space between to enjoy them again.
These books, this series deals with prosecuting in the present, war crimes in the past, or in two of the situations an Arab Israeli Conflict kidnapping, and an Irish Family Squabble. Otherwise, all the books center on the hiding and persecution of Jews, the Holocaust, WW2, and Nazi occupation of various countries. The defendants are elderly, and often there is little evidence to go on. Incredibly often, there is a war hero who is masquerading their crimes as Nazi Collaborators. Enter Book Six, and the charming Britta Stein. Centering on her story of a girl in Denmark, Britta Stein at 92 will not let the honoring and reverence as a war hero of Ole Hendriks stand. At age 95, a beloved barman is getting honored for his work in rescuing Jews in Denmark. Britta Stein believes the opposite and has a story to tell. With masterful storytelling, legal expertise, damn good detective work, and tremendous compassion for the survivors of that time, not to mention family legacy, Catherine and Liam must work hard to bring Britta's story to light. Another five stars for Britta Stein and Ron Balson, who never disappoints.
In 2020 I did this series as my series of the year, and followed this couple and author. I really loved every single one of them, although I admit that by the fifth one, I was kind of tired of the title characters. But they have all been runaway hits with me, and this one was no exception, and with plenty of space between to enjoy them again.
These books, this series deals with prosecuting in the present, war crimes in the past, or in two of the situations an Arab Israeli Conflict kidnapping, and an Irish Family Squabble. Otherwise, all the books center on the hiding and persecution of Jews, the Holocaust, WW2, and Nazi occupation of various countries. The defendants are elderly, and often there is little evidence to go on. Incredibly often, there is a war hero who is masquerading their crimes as Nazi Collaborators. Enter Book Six, and the charming Britta Stein. Centering on her story of a girl in Denmark, Britta Stein at 92 will not let the honoring and reverence as a war hero of Ole Hendriks stand. At age 95, a beloved barman is getting honored for his work in rescuing Jews in Denmark. Britta Stein believes the opposite and has a story to tell. With masterful storytelling, legal expertise, damn good detective work, and tremendous compassion for the survivors of that time, not to mention family legacy, Catherine and Liam must work hard to bring Britta's story to light. Another five stars for Britta Stein and Ron Balson, who never disappoints.
October 1, 2021
Author Ronald H. Balson treats us to another excellent book featuring the characters of Catherine Lockhart and Liam Taggart, the husband and wife team of lawyer and investigator. Defending Britta Stein is book number six in the series and is another absorbing story told in dual timelines.
In present day (2018), Ole Henryks, a ninety-five-year-old man who owns a successful tavern, is about to be honored by the Danish-American Association of Chicago for his heroism during World War II and his role in saving many Jewish residents of Denmark from the Nazis. After this accolade makes the local news, someone paints on the wall of his restaurant – Liar, Informer, Traitor, Nazi collaborator, Nazi agent, Betrayer. It is soon discovered that the person spray-painting these words is ninety-two-year-old Britta Stein. Catherine Lockhart is persuaded to defend Britta in a defamation suit against her.
Catherine needs to prove that what Britta wrote on the wall is true but she knows it will be an uphill battle. Catherine wants to get the details as to how Britta is so sure that Ole is not the hero he says he is but Britta wants to tell her complete story to both Catherine and her granddaughter Emma, also an attorney. This engaging book shifts to Denmark and the start of the war. Denmark entered into a unique occupation agreement with Germany which allowed the country's political institutions and its king to remain in relative control under its rule. This agreement changed in 1943 as the Germans saw growing hostility and decided it was time to get the Danes in line and also remove its Jewish population.
Both the historical side of the book as well as the present-day legal proceedings makes for a riveting read. The relationship that develops between Catherine and Britta is very touching as well as Emma’s discovery of her beloved “Bubbe’s” history.
The main characters are all fictional but the story of how the Danish people supported their small Jewish community through the worst of times is true and brought tears to my eyes.
Defending Britta Stein is another winning book in a wonderful series.
Rated 4.5 stars.
Review posted on MicheleReader.com.
In present day (2018), Ole Henryks, a ninety-five-year-old man who owns a successful tavern, is about to be honored by the Danish-American Association of Chicago for his heroism during World War II and his role in saving many Jewish residents of Denmark from the Nazis. After this accolade makes the local news, someone paints on the wall of his restaurant – Liar, Informer, Traitor, Nazi collaborator, Nazi agent, Betrayer. It is soon discovered that the person spray-painting these words is ninety-two-year-old Britta Stein. Catherine Lockhart is persuaded to defend Britta in a defamation suit against her.
Catherine needs to prove that what Britta wrote on the wall is true but she knows it will be an uphill battle. Catherine wants to get the details as to how Britta is so sure that Ole is not the hero he says he is but Britta wants to tell her complete story to both Catherine and her granddaughter Emma, also an attorney. This engaging book shifts to Denmark and the start of the war. Denmark entered into a unique occupation agreement with Germany which allowed the country's political institutions and its king to remain in relative control under its rule. This agreement changed in 1943 as the Germans saw growing hostility and decided it was time to get the Danes in line and also remove its Jewish population.
Both the historical side of the book as well as the present-day legal proceedings makes for a riveting read. The relationship that develops between Catherine and Britta is very touching as well as Emma’s discovery of her beloved “Bubbe’s” history.
The main characters are all fictional but the story of how the Danish people supported their small Jewish community through the worst of times is true and brought tears to my eyes.
Defending Britta Stein is another winning book in a wonderful series.
Rated 4.5 stars.
Review posted on MicheleReader.com.
April 23, 2022
A Danish restauranteur, Ole Hendryks, is about to be honored by a local association for his civic activities and record as a Danish hero in WWII, rescuing Jews, when a 90-year old woman is arrested for spray-painting epithets on the walls of his restaurant: traitor, liar, Nazi collaborator. and charitable contributions. Frequently appearing on local TV, he is well known for his actions in Nazi-occupied Denmark during World War II—most consider him a hero. A showboating lawyer files a $5 million defamation lawsuit, and Britta Stein welcomes the lawsuit and court fight. One of Catherine Lockhart's former law mentors asks her to help, as Britta is the grandmother of one of his rising attorneys. Reminiscent of Karolina's Twins, Britta tells a very long story of how the Danes kept their national identity during the Nazi occupation, with the majority opposing the occupation, working together to undermine the Germans, and to rescue their Jewish citizens. Her father was in Parliament, and her sister and brother-in-law active in the resistance. Excellent investigative support by Liam (again) and a well-executed legal strategy, especially in light of Britta's failing health as the trial commences. Another gem by Balson, and especially strong pictorial of the righteous Danes in a dark part of history.
July 7, 2021
3.5 stars I received an ARC of this book. I actually liked this story and the premises behind the book so I had a hard time deciding a rating. This book is slam full of information about the Danish during WW2. My problem with the book was the way the story was told. There is no way a 90+ year old woman could tell a story from over 70 years ago with that much detail. I enjoyed the details and her telling of the story but that made it seem false. Not false like she was telling it wrong but like a made up story for us to read. In my 30s I couldn't tell a story from 6 months ago with the detail she told her story. This maybe should have been one of those books with flashbacks or something so the entire story could be told and make sense with the amount of detail included. I do recommend the book and am glad I received a copy.
September 22, 2021
DEFENDING BRITTA STEIN: A NOVEL
Ronal H Balson
Britta Stein is a Danish immigrant of WWII who has lived her life rather quietly. She is a woman in her 90s and has of yet never told her family her story of her life in Denmark during the war. I don't know too many 90-year-old people who are as spry as this lady is, with a great memory and off and on physical abilities. At times she has enough power to walk from her home to the harbor and back and while we are not told the distance of this afternoon walk, she requires assistance from the defendant's chair to the witness box. Amazingly she was also able to go six nights in a row to the plaintiff's business and spray paint graffiti on the side of his building at 3:30 in the morning.
I was enamored of the WWII information, however, it was largely told as a narrative by Britta so lacked action or emotion. This was a strong narrative that seemed well researched. Also, I found the modern-day story a bit weak and at the least extremely contrived. In the lawsuit, it is the plaintiff's attorney that just didn't seem to ring true for me... this was supposed to be a "big-budget" attorney, yet he presented his case like a circus clown, loud and on fire.
Based on the other books in this series that I have read, this one seemed to overshoot the mark and needed more words than necessary to do that. So, it was a conflicting read for me. I wanted to like this more than I ended up doing. In the past, I enjoyed Catherine and Liam as a legal power team, but this time even their relationship just seemed flat for me. Catherine just didn't seem up to her standards and there was not a great deal of interaction with Liam.
The final verdict. 3 stars
Happy Reading!
Ronal H Balson
Britta Stein is a Danish immigrant of WWII who has lived her life rather quietly. She is a woman in her 90s and has of yet never told her family her story of her life in Denmark during the war. I don't know too many 90-year-old people who are as spry as this lady is, with a great memory and off and on physical abilities. At times she has enough power to walk from her home to the harbor and back and while we are not told the distance of this afternoon walk, she requires assistance from the defendant's chair to the witness box. Amazingly she was also able to go six nights in a row to the plaintiff's business and spray paint graffiti on the side of his building at 3:30 in the morning.
I was enamored of the WWII information, however, it was largely told as a narrative by Britta so lacked action or emotion. This was a strong narrative that seemed well researched. Also, I found the modern-day story a bit weak and at the least extremely contrived. In the lawsuit, it is the plaintiff's attorney that just didn't seem to ring true for me... this was supposed to be a "big-budget" attorney, yet he presented his case like a circus clown, loud and on fire.
Based on the other books in this series that I have read, this one seemed to overshoot the mark and needed more words than necessary to do that. So, it was a conflicting read for me. I wanted to like this more than I ended up doing. In the past, I enjoyed Catherine and Liam as a legal power team, but this time even their relationship just seemed flat for me. Catherine just didn't seem up to her standards and there was not a great deal of interaction with Liam.
The final verdict. 3 stars
Happy Reading!
April 30, 2021
Defending Britta Stein by Ronald H. Balson is a great WWII-era historical fiction novel that has mystery, intrigue, suspense, history, and kept me interested from beginning to end.
I really enjoyed this novel and the way the narrative played out from a dual-timeline perspective. I enjoyed the slowly unraveling of the past events, as the investigation and courtroom/legal battle proceeds. The author's ability to weave a tale that was intriguing, complex, and engaging, yet was easy to follow and appreciate was impressive.
I enjoyed the full character cast and especially enjoyed the fabulous duo of Catherine Lockhart (attorney) and her spouse (and investigator) Liam Taggart. I thought the way the narrative was presented was exceptional and memorable.
Anyone that is a historical fiction fan, and also a mystery/legal fiction fan, will truly enjoy this read.
5/5 stars
Thank you NG and St. Martin's Press for this wonderful arc and in return I am submitting my unbiased and voluntary review and opinion.
I am posting this review to my GR and Bookbub accounts immediately and will post it to my Amazon, Instagram, and B&N accounts upon publication.
I really enjoyed this novel and the way the narrative played out from a dual-timeline perspective. I enjoyed the slowly unraveling of the past events, as the investigation and courtroom/legal battle proceeds. The author's ability to weave a tale that was intriguing, complex, and engaging, yet was easy to follow and appreciate was impressive.
I enjoyed the full character cast and especially enjoyed the fabulous duo of Catherine Lockhart (attorney) and her spouse (and investigator) Liam Taggart. I thought the way the narrative was presented was exceptional and memorable.
Anyone that is a historical fiction fan, and also a mystery/legal fiction fan, will truly enjoy this read.
5/5 stars
Thank you NG and St. Martin's Press for this wonderful arc and in return I am submitting my unbiased and voluntary review and opinion.
I am posting this review to my GR and Bookbub accounts immediately and will post it to my Amazon, Instagram, and B&N accounts upon publication.
September 7, 2021
Ninety-two-year-old Britta Stein was charged with spray painting the restaurant of Ole Henryks once he was slated to be honored as a hero during WWII.
Britta said he was not a hero...he was a Nazi collaborator.
Britta needs an attorney, and Catherine Lockhart and Liam Taggert team up to defend her.
DEFENDING BRITTA STEIN takes the reader to Denmark during the war with detailed information of the situation the citizens were under during the Nazi occupation.
Very interesting to learn how Denmark dealt with this part of history.
The book goes back and forth in time as Britta tells the story of her life during the occupation and back to today as she prepares for her trial with Catherine, Liam, and her granddaughter, Emma.
Britta also wants her story told so her granddaughter finally knows her family history which has been kept from Emma.
Britta is definitely a feisty, enjoyable character. Between her and Mr. Balson's impeccable research, DEFENDING BRITTA STEIN is another winner for him.
Any fan of Mr. Balson will not want to miss his newest.
The way he has Britta telling her story, and how he ties the present-day situation into the past makes the book difficult to put down.
His talent definitely shines through in DEFENDING BRITTA STEIN. 5/5
This book was given to me by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Britta said he was not a hero...he was a Nazi collaborator.
Britta needs an attorney, and Catherine Lockhart and Liam Taggert team up to defend her.
DEFENDING BRITTA STEIN takes the reader to Denmark during the war with detailed information of the situation the citizens were under during the Nazi occupation.
Very interesting to learn how Denmark dealt with this part of history.
The book goes back and forth in time as Britta tells the story of her life during the occupation and back to today as she prepares for her trial with Catherine, Liam, and her granddaughter, Emma.
Britta also wants her story told so her granddaughter finally knows her family history which has been kept from Emma.
Britta is definitely a feisty, enjoyable character. Between her and Mr. Balson's impeccable research, DEFENDING BRITTA STEIN is another winner for him.
Any fan of Mr. Balson will not want to miss his newest.
The way he has Britta telling her story, and how he ties the present-day situation into the past makes the book difficult to put down.
His talent definitely shines through in DEFENDING BRITTA STEIN. 5/5
This book was given to me by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
April 30, 2021
Ronald H. Balson is truly a prolific historical fiction writer, and his ability to create sympathetic heroes (as well as monstrous villains) in World War II stories is incredible. While the premise of this book felt oddly similar to that of Once We Were Brothers, it played out differently and introduced me to a European experience of WWII that I was unfamiliar with— the Danish experience. As always, Catherine and Liam continue to be the perfect team, pulling off a defense worthy of a primetime drama, but that’s how the novel reads. For any fans of legal dramas or historical fiction, I can’t recommend the Catherine Lockhart and Liam Taggert series highly enough, and Defending Britta Stein is no exception.
October 15, 2021
I listened to this book instead of reading which is not my norm. Maybe I shouldn’t be allowed to do that anymore? 😆 I have a few things to share . . . and they ain’t pretty!
Breaking down my thoughts on this book:
Concept - 4
Flashback story - 3
Present day storyline - 2
Wishy-washy/annoying characters - 1
Repetitive and inconsistent dialogue (yes - they were happening simultaneously) - 1
Does she remember or not? Is she strong or not? Is she going too slow or not? MAKE UP YOUR MINDS!!
Audio version - HIGHLY ANNOYING!
It felt as if the author did tons of research and wanted to show off how much he knew by having characters simply spit out the facts!
The way in which the lawyer interacted with her client and prepared for the case was very unrealistic.
And if I heard the words “narrative” or “Bubby” one more time .... 😡 😜
The end? How the hell did they get from point A to the point Z with NO proof of B through Y???
Was this the rough draft of the story published by mistake?
I’ll stop there!! Phew!
Breaking down my thoughts on this book:
Concept - 4
Flashback story - 3
Present day storyline - 2
Wishy-washy/annoying characters - 1
Repetitive and inconsistent dialogue (yes - they were happening simultaneously) - 1
Does she remember or not? Is she strong or not? Is she going too slow or not? MAKE UP YOUR MINDS!!
Audio version - HIGHLY ANNOYING!
It felt as if the author did tons of research and wanted to show off how much he knew by having characters simply spit out the facts!
The way in which the lawyer interacted with her client and prepared for the case was very unrealistic.
And if I heard the words “narrative” or “Bubby” one more time .... 😡 😜
The end? How the hell did they get from point A to the point Z with NO proof of B through Y???
Was this the rough draft of the story published by mistake?
I’ll stop there!! Phew!
September 21, 2021
This is the latest of the Catherine Lockhart/Liam Taggert mysteries, and the formula (Catherine represents a holocaust/WWII survivor in a present day lawsuit and the client uses the lawsuit prep to tell his or her particular WWII story) is getting old. Britta Stein's story was set in WWII Denmark, and although Denmark's Jews' experience was different from the experience of other German-occupied countries, there were several times in the book where I felt that I had read this exact Balson book before. Balson is a good storyteller, and his fiction is well researched, but his next WWII novel needs a new format/structure.
October 16, 2021
During the middle of the night 92-year-old Britta Stein spray paints Nazi, traitor and a couple other things on the side of a local bar, The Melancholy Dane. The owner is 95-year-old Ole Henryks who subsequently sues for defamation of character. He is about to be honored by the Danish-American Association in Chicago as a war hero for helping the Jews out of Denmark but Britta thinks differently.
Britta is an amazing character. For her age she is full of life. She is heroic then and also now as she stands up for what she believes is right and fights for the truth to come out. She is assisted in her fight by her granddaughter, Emma, who is also a lawyer and becomes co-counsel with Catherine Lockhart.
I did not realize that this was part of a series. It did not take away any enjoyment I had for the story itself but probably reading the previous books would help me understand the characters of Catherine and Liam more. Emma as a character was not well defined and hopefully she will make appearances in future books in the series.
I would like to thank Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for providing me with a copy of this inspirational story.
Britta is an amazing character. For her age she is full of life. She is heroic then and also now as she stands up for what she believes is right and fights for the truth to come out. She is assisted in her fight by her granddaughter, Emma, who is also a lawyer and becomes co-counsel with Catherine Lockhart.
I did not realize that this was part of a series. It did not take away any enjoyment I had for the story itself but probably reading the previous books would help me understand the characters of Catherine and Liam more. Emma as a character was not well defined and hopefully she will make appearances in future books in the series.
I would like to thank Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for providing me with a copy of this inspirational story.
October 8, 2021
Nobody does it better. Again, Mr Balson has written a poignant and well researched historical novel. This is a story depicting life in Denmark during World War II as a German protectorate. It is told by a 92 year old Jewish woman who is a feisty old devil - ya gotta love Britta!
This was a real learning experience as I had no idea of the role Denmark played during the war - and it was significant. So glad the country is honored at Yad Vashim in Israel.
I also find it interesting that two Holocaust cases have been in the news this past week involving a 92 year old woman and a 100 year old man. It made this novel seem so timely.
This was a real learning experience as I had no idea of the role Denmark played during the war - and it was significant. So glad the country is honored at Yad Vashim in Israel.
I also find it interesting that two Holocaust cases have been in the news this past week involving a 92 year old woman and a 100 year old man. It made this novel seem so timely.
August 5, 2021
Finding the Truth
Britta's story was happy, sad, inspirational and tragic. The courage of her and her family both during the war and afterwards is commendable. Even in her ninety's Britta felt that a wrong needed to be righted and she was determined to see that it was. When she saw that Ole Henryks was going to be awarded a war medal for heroism in WWII for helping Jewish people escape the Nazi's she had to find a way to expose him for a Nazi collaborator.
What a lesson in history of the country of Denmark during WWII. I loved how the Danish people rallied around the Jewish people and saved thousands of them. I have heard of no other European country that did so much to help their Jewish citizens. I learned so much about a country that I had really not heard much about.
The characters of Catherine and Emma were so compassionate toward Britta in letting her tell her story in her own way and in believing in her. Catherine's court room presentation was nothing short of awesome.
I have read some of Ronald H. Balson's books and every one of them are wonderful stories..this one is no different. The author did a great job of telling this story. I enjoyed reading it and I would recommend it.
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book, all opinions are my own
Thanks to Ronald H. Balson, St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for allowing me to read a complimentary copy of the book.
Britta's story was happy, sad, inspirational and tragic. The courage of her and her family both during the war and afterwards is commendable. Even in her ninety's Britta felt that a wrong needed to be righted and she was determined to see that it was. When she saw that Ole Henryks was going to be awarded a war medal for heroism in WWII for helping Jewish people escape the Nazi's she had to find a way to expose him for a Nazi collaborator.
What a lesson in history of the country of Denmark during WWII. I loved how the Danish people rallied around the Jewish people and saved thousands of them. I have heard of no other European country that did so much to help their Jewish citizens. I learned so much about a country that I had really not heard much about.
The characters of Catherine and Emma were so compassionate toward Britta in letting her tell her story in her own way and in believing in her. Catherine's court room presentation was nothing short of awesome.
I have read some of Ronald H. Balson's books and every one of them are wonderful stories..this one is no different. The author did a great job of telling this story. I enjoyed reading it and I would recommend it.
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book, all opinions are my own
Thanks to Ronald H. Balson, St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for allowing me to read a complimentary copy of the book.
September 28, 2021
Excellent book concerning an elderly woman's allegations against a beloved local bar owner for past Nazi collaboration. I've read numerous books about the Holocaust, though I don't remember reading any that took place in Denmark. I found the present-day story of the trial to be a bit contrived, while the back story of Britta's life in Denmark during WWII was completely fascinating. The courage and loyalty of the Denmark citizens was truly inspirational.
Highly recommended. I won this book in a Goodreads giveaway.
Highly recommended. I won this book in a Goodreads giveaway.
February 10, 2025
I’ve been trying to get this book and finally I’ve read is called “Defending Britta Stein” by Ronald H Balson. He’s a historian fiction at masterpiece storyteller. I loved all his books, and this is my 6th book I’ve read by him. The characters, Catherine Lockhart and Liam Taggart, Emma, etc, was fantastic written, and the story had a great flow. I want these books that made into movies. He wrote the story about Denmark during the World War Two which is true, but the characters are fictional and some were accurate. Denmark is the only country with 95%, the bravery of the many youth Danish resistance groups has protected and saved 7,200 of their Danish Jewish community by hiding, escaping to Sweden safely. During the Holocaust, a small number, only 120 of the Danish Jews died during the Holocaust. Unfortunately in 1943, the 470 Jewish people have been deported to Theresiestadt , a concentration camp in Czechoslovakia, 53 out of 470 Jews died in the camps. The Danish people gave them food and provision by the red army in Theresiestadt at the time.
July 20, 2021
Book Review: Defending Britta Stein, by Ronald H. Balson, St. Mary’s Press, New York
Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to read this interesting and informative book in exchange for an honest review.
The story begins in the courtroom where attorney Catherine Lockhart has just presented a case to Judge Obadiah. She wins it. As soon as the case is done, another attorney, Walter Jenkins, asks for a moment of Catherine’s time to discuss another matter. That matter is the case of Britta Stein who has been arrested and is being sued for defamatory remarks made about a local businessman, a 95 year-old Ole Henryks – accusing him of being a Nazi-sympathizer, and a perpetrator of war crimes against Jews in Denmark. The defendant, Britta Stein, is also in her mid-90’s. She doesn’t deny what she’s done. In fact – she claims it’s all true. Walter is asking Catherine to defend her. Intrigued, ultimately she says yes.
The story unfolds as Catherine and her associate, Emma Fisher – who is the niece of Britta Stein – begin listening to Britta and letting her tell the tale of why Ole Henryks is in fact exactly what Britta says he is. To help unravel all the pieces, Catherine asks her husband, Liam Taggart, to help her research the data to prove Britta’s innocence.
It’s a fascinating tale the takes you back into the early days of the Nazi’s ultimate occupation of Denmark and how the Blue Shirt informers who supported the Germans, tried to thwart the efforts of the resistance to protect the Jewish population. While it is an historical fiction novel – with the narrative shifting between present day with Catherine, Emma and Liam, Britta and Ole – and WWII days as told by Britta about her experiences in Denmark as a child. The truth of what occurred in Denmark in World War II (see acknowledgements) are factual and the story is built upon that truth. All characters are fictionalized and well conceived and fleshed out. It’s a robust and compelling story.
Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to read this interesting and informative book in exchange for an honest review.
The story begins in the courtroom where attorney Catherine Lockhart has just presented a case to Judge Obadiah. She wins it. As soon as the case is done, another attorney, Walter Jenkins, asks for a moment of Catherine’s time to discuss another matter. That matter is the case of Britta Stein who has been arrested and is being sued for defamatory remarks made about a local businessman, a 95 year-old Ole Henryks – accusing him of being a Nazi-sympathizer, and a perpetrator of war crimes against Jews in Denmark. The defendant, Britta Stein, is also in her mid-90’s. She doesn’t deny what she’s done. In fact – she claims it’s all true. Walter is asking Catherine to defend her. Intrigued, ultimately she says yes.
The story unfolds as Catherine and her associate, Emma Fisher – who is the niece of Britta Stein – begin listening to Britta and letting her tell the tale of why Ole Henryks is in fact exactly what Britta says he is. To help unravel all the pieces, Catherine asks her husband, Liam Taggart, to help her research the data to prove Britta’s innocence.
It’s a fascinating tale the takes you back into the early days of the Nazi’s ultimate occupation of Denmark and how the Blue Shirt informers who supported the Germans, tried to thwart the efforts of the resistance to protect the Jewish population. While it is an historical fiction novel – with the narrative shifting between present day with Catherine, Emma and Liam, Britta and Ole – and WWII days as told by Britta about her experiences in Denmark as a child. The truth of what occurred in Denmark in World War II (see acknowledgements) are factual and the story is built upon that truth. All characters are fictionalized and well conceived and fleshed out. It’s a robust and compelling story.
August 29, 2021
A very interesting historical fiction book that takes place in Chicago and Denmark. I wasn’t aware of that aspect of the holocaust so enjoyed learning about it. I also enjoyed the legal aspect of the story and how nonagenarians are depicted as vibrant members of society and able to make contributions to their communities. Thank you NetGalley for the ARC.
February 26, 2023
Poorly written, excessive legalese and predictable. Apart from an interesting background of Denmark's courageous efforts to save its Jewish population during WW2, the book has little merit. A pity because some of the author's previous works have been worthwhile reads.
September 19, 2022
A solid 4 star read but I'm giving this book 5 shiny stars.. I read this series in order and they were great. If you are a fan of historical fictions - then pick this series up.
September 23, 2021
I just spent my entire evening enthralled in this book and it was well worth it. Britta Stein pulls you in with her story and the ensuing drama that occurs in the court case. 100% an entertaining read.
September 13, 2021
This book was interesting and entertaining. I loved Britta and what she stood for. I really didn't know what Denmark went through during WWII. It was heartwarming to find out how wonderful the citizens of Denmark were, well most of them!!
September 6, 2021
This was the first book of Ronald H. Balson that I have read, but it won't be the last. His historical research is impeccable in its accuracy and attention to detail. Interweaving the experience of Danes during World War II, you thought you were there. While this was a work of fiction, he was able to convey the real-life trauma of those days. As a fan of Chicago's restaurants, he could not have painted a better picture.
You will not want to put this book down..
I understand that Mr. Balson is the winner of the National Jewish Book Award - and rightfully so. I look forward to reading more of his work.
You will not want to put this book down..
I understand that Mr. Balson is the winner of the National Jewish Book Award - and rightfully so. I look forward to reading more of his work.
August 11, 2021
I loved this book! This is not my typical read. I don’t like to read about the pain and atrocities inflicted upon the Jews during Hitler’s reign but I am so glad I did.
Britta Stein is a strong fascinating woman in the twilight of her years when she does something outrageous. She goes out during the early hours of the night six different times and spray paints the walls of a restaurant! The first night “Traitor,” then “Nazi Agent,” each night they are removed and each night more appear, until she is caught. Really? The owner, a 95 year old man, is about to be honored as a war hero for his assisting the Jews to escape persecution during WWII,
Britta is firm and pleads guilty to defacing property but will not back down about her claims that the owner Ole Henryks, an alias of Ole Hendricksen, is a Nazi collaborator, traitor and directly responsible for assisting the Nazis by turning in Jews to be sent to concentration camps or killed outright. Ole sues her for defamation of character and loudly proclaims his status of hero.
Catherine Lockhart has agreed to defend Britta as she feels there is credence to her claim, but how do you prove something from over seventy years past? Britta claims she can tell her but she is 92 and wants to go at her own speed making sure Catherine has all the facts in order. Time is running out and secrets and pain and persecution take time to tell. With both parties in their 90’s a long trial is not an option so they must prove Britta’s words, somehow.
What a great book, I highly recommend this to be your next read. The story will touch you and even though you want Britta to hurry up and “give the proof” and what could possibly be the proof? You must wait.
Thank you NetGalley and Bookouture for the opportunity to read this advanced copy. This is my honest opinion.
Britta Stein is a strong fascinating woman in the twilight of her years when she does something outrageous. She goes out during the early hours of the night six different times and spray paints the walls of a restaurant! The first night “Traitor,” then “Nazi Agent,” each night they are removed and each night more appear, until she is caught. Really? The owner, a 95 year old man, is about to be honored as a war hero for his assisting the Jews to escape persecution during WWII,
Britta is firm and pleads guilty to defacing property but will not back down about her claims that the owner Ole Henryks, an alias of Ole Hendricksen, is a Nazi collaborator, traitor and directly responsible for assisting the Nazis by turning in Jews to be sent to concentration camps or killed outright. Ole sues her for defamation of character and loudly proclaims his status of hero.
Catherine Lockhart has agreed to defend Britta as she feels there is credence to her claim, but how do you prove something from over seventy years past? Britta claims she can tell her but she is 92 and wants to go at her own speed making sure Catherine has all the facts in order. Time is running out and secrets and pain and persecution take time to tell. With both parties in their 90’s a long trial is not an option so they must prove Britta’s words, somehow.
What a great book, I highly recommend this to be your next read. The story will touch you and even though you want Britta to hurry up and “give the proof” and what could possibly be the proof? You must wait.
Thank you NetGalley and Bookouture for the opportunity to read this advanced copy. This is my honest opinion.
August 25, 2021
Wow! Another amazing installment of the Catherine Lockhart and Liam Taggert series from Ronald Balson.
When 92 year old Britta Stein is arrested for and charged with defamation, Catherine Lockhart sets out to prove that the words Britta used to condemn 95 year old Ole Hendryks are true. They are pretty damning words, traitor, liar, Nazi collaborator but Britta does not back down from her words. Hendryks adamantly denies that he had any involvement in Nazi war crimes…specifically informing on and leading the Gestapo to Danish Jews. But…Britta has a story to tell…one that she wants to share with her granddaughter and one that vindicates her family who suffered from the betrayal. When the case finds it’s way to trial, it’s Catherine’s job to prove that the defaming words are true…a challenge, indeed, because aside from testimony….very little remains from a war that occurred 75 years ago. But I’m true Catherine Lockhart form…she takes on the challenge.
While this story is a work of fiction…all of the events that are mentioned in this story are true to the history of Denmark’s WWII story. Some of the secondary characters were very real people but the main ones are of the authors incredible imagination. Fans of this series, will be hooked on this story from the very first page. It provided me with a history lesson that I was not at all familiar with and for that I am truly grateful. Denmark held strong during the war. They fought back and protected their people with overwhelming pride and unity. History teachers need to immerse themselves in stories like this because it truly has an impact! It definitely did on me!
Thank you so much to NetGalley, St Martins Press and most importantly Ronald Balson for allowing me to read this remarkable ahead of its release. I LOVED every page!
When 92 year old Britta Stein is arrested for and charged with defamation, Catherine Lockhart sets out to prove that the words Britta used to condemn 95 year old Ole Hendryks are true. They are pretty damning words, traitor, liar, Nazi collaborator but Britta does not back down from her words. Hendryks adamantly denies that he had any involvement in Nazi war crimes…specifically informing on and leading the Gestapo to Danish Jews. But…Britta has a story to tell…one that she wants to share with her granddaughter and one that vindicates her family who suffered from the betrayal. When the case finds it’s way to trial, it’s Catherine’s job to prove that the defaming words are true…a challenge, indeed, because aside from testimony….very little remains from a war that occurred 75 years ago. But I’m true Catherine Lockhart form…she takes on the challenge.
While this story is a work of fiction…all of the events that are mentioned in this story are true to the history of Denmark’s WWII story. Some of the secondary characters were very real people but the main ones are of the authors incredible imagination. Fans of this series, will be hooked on this story from the very first page. It provided me with a history lesson that I was not at all familiar with and for that I am truly grateful. Denmark held strong during the war. They fought back and protected their people with overwhelming pride and unity. History teachers need to immerse themselves in stories like this because it truly has an impact! It definitely did on me!
Thank you so much to NetGalley, St Martins Press and most importantly Ronald Balson for allowing me to read this remarkable ahead of its release. I LOVED every page!
October 20, 2021
There are lots of things about this book I did not like... essentially you have a 90+ year old narrator sharing her life story but it comes across like an indifferent regurgitation of historical facts. I felt as if I was being force fed a personal story thinly disguised as textbook writing. Also, I couldn't get over the implausibility of a very old, sick woman giving such a detailed account of events that happened 80 years ago; nor could I believe that an opposing lawyer could be hoodwinked and manipulated so easily.
The saving grace of this book is the light it shines on the bravery and solidarity of the Danish people as they stood for their freedoms, their independence and their countrymen, Jew or non-Jew, it didn't matter to them. I didn't know much about Denmark's determination to maintain their liberty and identity during their Nazi occupation and that part was truly inspiring. As the cycle of history spins round and round, their story is also very relevant to us today.
The saving grace of this book is the light it shines on the bravery and solidarity of the Danish people as they stood for their freedoms, their independence and their countrymen, Jew or non-Jew, it didn't matter to them. I didn't know much about Denmark's determination to maintain their liberty and identity during their Nazi occupation and that part was truly inspiring. As the cycle of history spins round and round, their story is also very relevant to us today.
October 17, 2021
I really wanted to like this book. The plot and courtroom drama were excellent. The characters were interesting, if a bit 2-dimensional. But for me, plot development was tedious, painfully slow, and unconvincing. Having Britta Stein tell her story slowed the plot line to a snail's crawl. Word choice and syntax were---unusual, especially in conversations. I thought it was too bad, as the story was worth telling. The final courtroom scenes were brilliant! I did a lot of fast skimming in order to get to the good stuff. Somewhere in there is a great book, so I toughed it out, then took some Ibuprofen.
January 20, 2022
After reading this powerful story which revolves around incidents that took place in WWII, I have gone back and read EVERY one of Ronald Balson's books. Themes are similar but the character development is what is so powerful. Hope he keeps writing because I've nearly read all his books.
March 21, 2022
Boring, formulaic
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