Barrack One: A Holocaust Story

The Barracks #5

by Elyse Hoffman

Past and present collide for the last time as Vilém Rehor, a night guard with the strange ability to speak to spirits, finds himself facing the wicked spirit of the Nazi Kommandant Hans Gerber.

A new exhibit is set to open in the Camp, an exhibit dedicated to survivors of the Holocaust—an exhibit that is sure to anger the vicious ghost of the Kommandant. Vilém’s fiancée begs him to keep his distance lest he become yet another victim of the murderous Kommandant...but Vilém won’t let the Nazi hurt anyone else.

Desperate to get rid of the ghost before the new exhibit opens, Vilém turns to the spirit of Reinhard Heydrich, the Architect of the Holocaust. The Hangman of Prague reluctantly gives Vilém enough information to coax Kommandant Gerber into speaking with him. But Heydrich’s confession is Kommandant Hans Gerber, the fanatical Nazi, had a Jewish brother.

Armed with this revelation, Vilém confronts Gerber’s ghost, eager to finally discover the full truth...but to do so, he must delve into the memories of a monster.

Barrack One is a thought-provoking, heartbreaking tale of the Holocaust, the conclusion to The Barracks Series.

Genres: Holocaust, Historical Fiction

104 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 28, 2021

About the author

Elyse Hoffman is an award-winning author who strives to tell historical tales with new twists. Having studied WWII since the age of thirteen and with interests in fantasy and Jewish folklore, she loves to combine them in her writing. Elyse started writing novels at fourteen and finished her first historical fiction work at fifteen. She has published eight books: five in a series called The Barracks of the Holocaust, and three novels, including The Book of Uriel, Where David Threw Stones, and Fracture. In her spare time, she loves to read, work on pretty keyboards, and hang out with her co-authors - her Goldendoodle Ari and her ex-feral cat, Echo.

Reviews

[Kimmylongtime · Rating 5 out of 5]

What an ending !

This series was wonderful. From beginning to end this has kept me on my toes. I am happy to know that the ghost of the Barracks have now been released and they can finally move on. With all good things they must end.
As the others this has triggers and it was far more brutal than the others. I did not like him but are you supposed to NO! And for that reason Elyse did exactly what she planned. I was taken into the horrors of WWII and given a different perspective. The craziest things about war is they are driven usually by ignorance and fear. Two things the Kommandant possessed and he allowed to drive him until his demise. I have recommended this to several friends. I will continue to recommend.

As always happy reading my friends

I received an advanced copy from BookSirens and I am leaving a review voluntarily.

[Sofe · Rating 4 out of 5]

EBook Review: BARRACK ONE by Elyse Hoffman

(B) eyond
(A) ngst
(R) ests
(R) ectitude
(A) verting
(K) indness

(O) nly
(N) ow
(E) xoneratded

BARRACK ONE, held last spirit.
Was still, stuck in past.

Decisions made, kept him there.
Constantly living, over and over.

Father's decision, trying to understand.
Breaking rules, when knows better.

Blood matters, holds lineage together.
Passed down, generation to generation.

The story, is told here.
Brings it, finally all together.

Helps explain, why didn't succeed.
Final Solution, never try again.

*************************************************
I received an advance review copy for free,
and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
*************************************************

[Lee Murray · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have loved this series, but this book was a tough one. I think it is hard to get in to the mind of a hardened criminal like a Nazi concentration camp commandant.

Nevertheless, Ms. Hoffman carries the story well and brings the series to a successful conclusion.

Well written, as is usual for this series, it is a good read. I’m curious as to what is next for the author.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Carolyn Scarcella · Rating 5 out of 5]

The shortest and the last series is called “Barrack One” by Elyse Hoffman. I can honestly say I'm sad it has ended. A powerhouse writing for a final book to end. This is certainly an interesting take on the subject, and I would love to read more books like this. This series is all about each different person with their family, loyalty, blood, morality, betrayal, brutality and war. We will get to know more about the Nazi Kommandant Hans Gerber known as “The Hangman of Prague”. We will find more about Martin, the Kommandant’s son. This has an impact on Vilem and his family. As a result, will Vilem confront Gerber, the truth about Martin or not? You can decide.

[Shirley McAllister · Rating 4 out of 5]

The ending

Vilem has one last spirit to release from the old concentration camp. This spirit is not to be tangled with as it is the spirit of the camp commander Gerber. Will Vilem accomplish his task and rid the camp of Gerber’s spirit?

As he sits in Gerber’s old office in Barrack One he engages with Gerber’s spirit. The images he sees and the hatred he feels in Gerber’s spirit is almost more than he can bear. The story of Hans Gerber and Isaac. Han's father gave his gas mass to Isaac and saved his life, Han's mother took in Isaac but he was not treated the same as Hans. Then of Isaac's son who Han's saves and tries to turn him into an Aryan child named Martin. Han's feels Martin's escape is the ultimate betrayal. Can Vilem convince Hans Gerber that Martin's life has been good and the Han's father's life was given for a good cause when he saved Isaac?

He must do this, he must rid the camp of this spirit and send it on where it belongs.

The last book is a good ending for the barrack series. It was a good book and it brought closure to the camp and to Vilem.

Thanks to Elyse Hoffman and Book sirens for allowing me to read a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

[Kerrie · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars - This was the perfect culmination to The Barracks Series. I'm glad the story ended the way it did, and I liked how it flash forwarded to Vilem's life with his kids; I loved how he paid homage to the other spirits when naming his children. I wish there was a bit more content between the Kommandment's final moments and the flash forward, but I still enjoyed it overall.

Thank you BookSirens for the free copy in return for an honest review.

[Joanne Lewis · Rating 4 out of 5]

In this final book in the Barrack series, central character Vilem is this time determined to exorcise the camp of the ghost of Kommandant Hans Gerber ahead of the opening of a new exhibition dedicated to survivors of the holocaust.

This is an enthralling part of the tale as Vilem is subjected to various memories both from the Kommandant's early life as well as his time in charge of the camp.

What is perhaps most captivating is Vilem's response to different aspects of Gerber's behaviour; often repulsed, whilst, at other times, surprised at his reactions, even going as far as to feel a tinge of empathy for the events that may have led him to manifest his abhorrent ways.

The reader is able to witness all of this through Vilem's eyes and this lends a realism to the narrative that might otherwise have been hard to convey so vividly.

Another must-read from this author!

With many thanks to Elyse Hoffman and BookSirens for the opportunity of an ARC.

[Darren Bourn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another one of the author's novellas that I had had received from the author and Booksirens.com in return for an honest and unbiased review.

As this is the fifth novella in the series that I have read and reviewed, I am amazed at how the author was able to take an event such as the holocaust and provide an almost human side to the story (not sure if that is coming out correctly or not).

This story continues where the last one left off, where the main character (Vilem) continues to meet with the ghosts of the former occupants and seminal characters in the life of a Czechoslovakian concentration camp and aiding them in telling their last story (or stories that have prevented from either going to Heaven or Hell).

As with the previous novellas in the series, this story is rated as five stars out of five stars.

As with all of my reviews, this is just my five cents worth.

[WiccanLady25 · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fantastic series of books by Elyse Hoffman

I wanted to wait until I finish all of the books in this series before I gave my review. This was a great read. All five of the books tell the story of the Holocaust in a fantastic way. Note: when starting to read this series please begin with the Barracks five book and continue backwards towards number one. Because each of the books are connected to the previous ones. I truly hope everyone enjoys reading this series as much as I have. I haven't given any information on what is written within this series because I don't want to give away anything. And also because the story goes straight into the plot of the Holocaust storyline at the very beginning. Due to it's content, I only advise for readers 17+

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Last one in the series, finished, and I can honestly say I'm sad it has ended. A powerhouse one to end on though! It took you again through a completely different point of view which was very different and felt like it completed the story. Family, loyalty, blood, morality, betrayal, brutality and war.

It showed me a range of things and opened my eyes to different aspects that I haven't read about before. A surprise ending too and I'm so glad I was introduced to this author.

RIP Steve!

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Julia Bell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Barrack One is the final book in the Barrack series and I've enjoyed every one. This story centres on the kommandant of the camp Hans Gerber who relishes his position and takes advantage of his authority over the wretched inmates.
I loved the way the ghosts of the previous barracks are intertwined through every story and in the final book, the reader finds out more about Martin, the kommandant's son. This has an impact on Vilem and his family and rounds off the Barrack series very well.
I can recommend this series and I'm pleased to give five stars.

[Yifat Cestare · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very well written and definitely answers any questions left from reading the previously written books. This is certainly an interesting take on the subject and I would love to read more books like this. Part of me is sorry the series is finished. I enjoyed the writing and have pre-ordered the book.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Candace Ryan · Rating 5 out of 5]

And just like that it's finished I didn't think one family could be mixed up in so much pain and turmoil but it seems I was wrong. All in all it was an amazing story.

[Debbie Lawrie · Rating 4 out of 5]

The last instalment of such a sad series of books.
A heartbreak that will be passed down through generation after generation.
Lest We Forget.