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Traitor #2
Tribunal
Berlin, 1945
Major Rolf Schulmann lies close to death in a military hospital after enduring the horrors of a concentration camp. Revived from a coma through a priesthood blessing, he slowly returns to health as his fiancée, Marie Jacobson, tenderly cares for his deep physical and spiritual wounds. Meanwhile, Rolf's best friend, SS Lieutenant Hans Brenner, begins to overcome the despair and depression of his postwar gutter-rat existence as he finds himself falling for Natalie Allred, a beautiful American nurse.
But as the world's emerging superpowers race to obtain nuclear secrets, Hans becomes a pawn in the deadly game and Natalie's freedom hangs in the balance. Rolf, unaware of their predicament, feels haunted by his Nazi past and seeks peace of conscience through the rigors of a military tribunal. Then, as tensions escalate between the United States and Russia, Rolf and Hans find themselves on opposite sides of the conflict.
With vivid emotion, Tribunal explores the risks and rewards of loyalty and love in the bitter aftermath of world war.
Major Rolf Schulmann lies close to death in a military hospital after enduring the horrors of a concentration camp. Revived from a coma through a priesthood blessing, he slowly returns to health as his fiancée, Marie Jacobson, tenderly cares for his deep physical and spiritual wounds. Meanwhile, Rolf's best friend, SS Lieutenant Hans Brenner, begins to overcome the despair and depression of his postwar gutter-rat existence as he finds himself falling for Natalie Allred, a beautiful American nurse.
But as the world's emerging superpowers race to obtain nuclear secrets, Hans becomes a pawn in the deadly game and Natalie's freedom hangs in the balance. Rolf, unaware of their predicament, feels haunted by his Nazi past and seeks peace of conscience through the rigors of a military tribunal. Then, as tensions escalate between the United States and Russia, Rolf and Hans find themselves on opposite sides of the conflict.
With vivid emotion, Tribunal explores the risks and rewards of loyalty and love in the bitter aftermath of world war.
10 pages, Audio CD
First published January 28, 2009
8 people are currently reading
215 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 163 reviews
March 12, 2022
I loved this sequel to Traitor; in fact I liked the sequel better than the first book. The readers are able to jump into this novel faster than the first one, mainly because we know the characters from the first book. It was good to find out what happened to Rolf, after he was left in such a precarious position in Traitor. I absolutely love the character of Hans Brenner. He is a true, selfless hero.
I like Sandra Grey's writing style. The way that the history is written is very interesting. I like books that teach history around a fictional theme. The time period in this book takes place after World War II has ended. Overall, this was a fast read and was very enjoyable.
I like Sandra Grey's writing style. The way that the history is written is very interesting. I like books that teach history around a fictional theme. The time period in this book takes place after World War II has ended. Overall, this was a fast read and was very enjoyable.
August 28, 2021
#5Stars - This rating and review is for the full World War II Trilogy: Traitor; Tribunal; Trespass
Excellent research providing a genuine look into post WWII in France, Germany and Russia make this a remarkable study of history. The End Notes for each book are a must and provide good understanding of the harrowing conditions of the people.
At the same time believable and well-defined characters make this collection a great fictional read. Too often writers “Americanize” the experiences of their characters with little understanding of times and circumstances quite different from our own. Not so with this collection. The writing is engaging. The Audio Books with superb narration are available as individual books.
My heart was at times stretched. It is painful to face our own inabilities to wipe away all tears as our hearts reach out to others who suffer. With the realities faced by men and women under overwhelmingly difficult circumstances, I was led to consider my own efforts to live according to the light and truth I have. I found myself once again grateful for the profound privilege it is to live free not only as an American but also with the precious knowledge that there is a Plan of Happiness. There is great purpose in life and the promises to receive all we are willing to receive are sure. The Savior paid the price of all inequities and will carry each and every one who seeks a heavenly home.
As with all good reads, I find myself desiring to be better and live true. I find greater capacity to genuinely care for and pray for my brothers and sisters throughout the world who are facing desperate times. I find myself seeking whatever small part I can do to make a difference for good.
Well Done Sandra Grey! This collection ranks up there with "All the Light We Cannot See" by Anthony Doerr: "The Book Thief" by Markus Zusak; "Til the Boys Come Home," by Jerry Borrowman; and "The "Nightingale" by Kirstin Hannah"
Excellent research providing a genuine look into post WWII in France, Germany and Russia make this a remarkable study of history. The End Notes for each book are a must and provide good understanding of the harrowing conditions of the people.
At the same time believable and well-defined characters make this collection a great fictional read. Too often writers “Americanize” the experiences of their characters with little understanding of times and circumstances quite different from our own. Not so with this collection. The writing is engaging. The Audio Books with superb narration are available as individual books.
My heart was at times stretched. It is painful to face our own inabilities to wipe away all tears as our hearts reach out to others who suffer. With the realities faced by men and women under overwhelmingly difficult circumstances, I was led to consider my own efforts to live according to the light and truth I have. I found myself once again grateful for the profound privilege it is to live free not only as an American but also with the precious knowledge that there is a Plan of Happiness. There is great purpose in life and the promises to receive all we are willing to receive are sure. The Savior paid the price of all inequities and will carry each and every one who seeks a heavenly home.
As with all good reads, I find myself desiring to be better and live true. I find greater capacity to genuinely care for and pray for my brothers and sisters throughout the world who are facing desperate times. I find myself seeking whatever small part I can do to make a difference for good.
Well Done Sandra Grey! This collection ranks up there with "All the Light We Cannot See" by Anthony Doerr: "The Book Thief" by Markus Zusak; "Til the Boys Come Home," by Jerry Borrowman; and "The "Nightingale" by Kirstin Hannah"
October 18, 2021
Great book where the story takes place right after WWII.
I have not read the other two books (not available on the publisher/apps I use.) I would still recommend it as a stand-alone.
Kept my interest the entire time - although it took a couple of chapters to really get into it.
CONS: I didn't care for how fast the narrator (David Walker, on Deseret Book) was reading it (I listened to this on audio). It was way too fast and I couldn't just "casually" listen to it, I had to really focus and pay close attention or I would miss words. Other than that, it was a great read!
The story takes place in 1945 and there are four main characters, where two of them end up on opposing ends of post-WWII Communist endeavors. It's interesting and while it didn't "keep me on the edge of my seat", it did keep my interest piked enough that I had a hard time putting it down sometimes.
What would you do if you had "done your job" during WWII and came to realize it was for the wrong side of the moral/ethical line? How would you "stop it", or "repent" or move on in life knowing what you'd done, and how would you help others know you were not truly that person? And likely never really were, but you, like many others had been blinded to these things prior to the war?
I have not read the other two books (not available on the publisher/apps I use.) I would still recommend it as a stand-alone.
Kept my interest the entire time - although it took a couple of chapters to really get into it.
CONS: I didn't care for how fast the narrator (David Walker, on Deseret Book) was reading it (I listened to this on audio). It was way too fast and I couldn't just "casually" listen to it, I had to really focus and pay close attention or I would miss words. Other than that, it was a great read!
The story takes place in 1945 and there are four main characters, where two of them end up on opposing ends of post-WWII Communist endeavors. It's interesting and while it didn't "keep me on the edge of my seat", it did keep my interest piked enough that I had a hard time putting it down sometimes.
What would you do if you had "done your job" during WWII and came to realize it was for the wrong side of the moral/ethical line? How would you "stop it", or "repent" or move on in life knowing what you'd done, and how would you help others know you were not truly that person? And likely never really were, but you, like many others had been blinded to these things prior to the war?
August 11, 2020
I really enjoyed this book! It was a great continuation from book one, and I loved seeing the resolution of Rolf's and Marie's story. It was also great to get a more in depth look at Hans and his goodness and transformation. It was also very informative to me because I knew very little about Soviet actions and beliefs at the end of WWII.
July 31, 2018
Book two--I think I liked it even more than book 1, which is rare for me for series. I had never thought about what happened to good Nazi soldiers AFTER the war, and the idea of tribunals and trials to find their guilt or innocence was a new idea and a fun read. Loved it.
August 2, 2021
Very exciting - not sure what was going to happen but another big cliff hanger at the end - leads to the next book. Did feel the author did go a bit long in this book and kept adding things but it was suspenseful.
July 16, 2017
Not quite as good as the first, but I enjoyed reading the continuation of the characters. More insight into the aftermath of WWII.
September 25, 2019
I liked it better than the first book of the trilogy.
June 24, 2021
This book was really good!! I loved Hans’ and Natalie’s love story! I definitely recommend reading this book. I did love the first one Bette though!
October 28, 2015
Disclaimer: I had no idea this was a 'sequel' to Traitor. That being said, it really had next to no impact on the story line until the part when names were being thrown around that I had never heard before.
I used to read a lot of LDS Fiction. I liked it because it was clean and always has a happy ending. You have to be able to suspend belief and I'm usually okay with that, but this book was asking for a lot of suspended belief.
I'm not sure what qualifies as a spoiler or not as I never read the first book, so just be warned you might learn something that ruins the first book.
The characters:
I found then all over the top. From perfect nurse Natalie to big strong brave Hans. And villain, Viktor was never all that scary. Rolf and Maria's story was okay, not knowing much about their background I didn't really care.
This book focused on Natalie and Hans. And had the two just been honest with each other from the start 90% of this book wouldn't have been needed. Natalie was annoying. Some of the things she said were completely idiotic.
page 50
"Where are we? This is disgusting." (Natalie)
"Home." (Hans)
"Certainly not the home of a human being."
"Of course no. Just me. And forty other gutter rats."
Later Natalie wonders were all the people came from? You'd think she didn't know that she was living in a war-torn Berlin. She talks about seeing soldiers and hungry refugees but she doesn't think they live in squalor? I just have a hard time taking her seriously.
I won't talk about the fact that Hans had to shoot someone to save her and Natalie refuses to tell him why she's out wandering the streets by herself. She's too busy whining about her stupid letter.
Her characterization is all over the place too. She talks about sketching and drawing, but we never see that, we're just told she enjoys it.
Then there's this exchange on page 55.
(Hans) "So you're a German, but you're an American. And you're a quarter Jew, but you're also a Mormon. You're quite the breed, Miss Allred. Tell me you're anything else and you'd belong to a zoo."
A normal person would probably be offended, and well should be. Shall we see how Natalie reacts?
Natalie smothered a giggle and felt a sudden, growing kinship with the man sitting on the floor beside her.
Okay then.
Later in the book, I can't be bothered to find the page number, Rolf and some fellow prisoners are playing a game of baseball and the word 'slaughtered' is used to describe how Rolf hit the ball. I'm sorry, but you're in post-WWII Europe. That is a poor word choice.
And again, much later in the book, page 272 to be precise we get this passage.
"My wife didn't make it." The man's hands slowed. Hans supported the man's drooping shoulders with his large hands and helped him sit down on the curb. Hans sat next to him. "What do you mean?"
Fascinated, Natalie joined the two men on the curb and listened as the watchmaker opened up to Hans, telling him tearfully of the Nazi marauders, the brutal beatings, the degradations, and, finally, his family's forced move into the ghetto and eventually into the camps.
I'm sorry but if you're fascinated by that story there is something very wrong with you.
The book also seems to like to use the word 'fingered.' Viktor fingered the side of the desk, a white rose. The word was used twice in the space of three pages. And it's such an odd word choice. To me the word caressed would have made more sense with the rose because in the next instance he crushed it to prove a point to Natalie.
Spoilers, Spoilers, Spoilers.
Seriously. I'm going to ask questions that will definitely spoil the book.
Is Natalie actually Russian?
What happened at the end with Hans and the delivery of the white rose?
What about Rolf and Marie?
This book. I just...
I skimmed the last 10 or so chapters and felt like I didn't miss anything. Rolf's trial was boring and the 'big reveal' that Hans made towards the end was expected.
This is probably one of those series where you have to read all the books to get the full picture, but I won't be joining anyone in that reading journey. Not until this book understands that you have to be respectful of the horrific events of WWII - not more or less laugh at the conditions of the refuges and make poor word choices.
All in all - an okay read. I didn't hate the book, I just disliked how convenient everything was toward the end.
I used to read a lot of LDS Fiction. I liked it because it was clean and always has a happy ending. You have to be able to suspend belief and I'm usually okay with that, but this book was asking for a lot of suspended belief.
I'm not sure what qualifies as a spoiler or not as I never read the first book, so just be warned you might learn something that ruins the first book.
The characters:
I found then all over the top. From perfect nurse Natalie to big strong brave Hans. And villain, Viktor was never all that scary. Rolf and Maria's story was okay, not knowing much about their background I didn't really care.
This book focused on Natalie and Hans. And had the two just been honest with each other from the start 90% of this book wouldn't have been needed. Natalie was annoying. Some of the things she said were completely idiotic.
page 50
"Where are we? This is disgusting." (Natalie)
"Home." (Hans)
"Certainly not the home of a human being."
"Of course no. Just me. And forty other gutter rats."
Later Natalie wonders were all the people came from? You'd think she didn't know that she was living in a war-torn Berlin. She talks about seeing soldiers and hungry refugees but she doesn't think they live in squalor? I just have a hard time taking her seriously.
I won't talk about the fact that Hans had to shoot someone to save her and Natalie refuses to tell him why she's out wandering the streets by herself. She's too busy whining about her stupid letter.
Her characterization is all over the place too. She talks about sketching and drawing, but we never see that, we're just told she enjoys it.
Then there's this exchange on page 55.
(Hans) "So you're a German, but you're an American. And you're a quarter Jew, but you're also a Mormon. You're quite the breed, Miss Allred. Tell me you're anything else and you'd belong to a zoo."
A normal person would probably be offended, and well should be. Shall we see how Natalie reacts?
Natalie smothered a giggle and felt a sudden, growing kinship with the man sitting on the floor beside her.
Okay then.
Later in the book, I can't be bothered to find the page number, Rolf and some fellow prisoners are playing a game of baseball and the word 'slaughtered' is used to describe how Rolf hit the ball. I'm sorry, but you're in post-WWII Europe. That is a poor word choice.
And again, much later in the book, page 272 to be precise we get this passage.
"My wife didn't make it." The man's hands slowed. Hans supported the man's drooping shoulders with his large hands and helped him sit down on the curb. Hans sat next to him. "What do you mean?"
Fascinated, Natalie joined the two men on the curb and listened as the watchmaker opened up to Hans, telling him tearfully of the Nazi marauders, the brutal beatings, the degradations, and, finally, his family's forced move into the ghetto and eventually into the camps.
I'm sorry but if you're fascinated by that story there is something very wrong with you.
The book also seems to like to use the word 'fingered.' Viktor fingered the side of the desk, a white rose. The word was used twice in the space of three pages. And it's such an odd word choice. To me the word caressed would have made more sense with the rose because in the next instance he crushed it to prove a point to Natalie.
Spoilers, Spoilers, Spoilers.
Seriously. I'm going to ask questions that will definitely spoil the book.
Is Natalie actually Russian?
What happened at the end with Hans and the delivery of the white rose?
What about Rolf and Marie?
This book. I just...
I skimmed the last 10 or so chapters and felt like I didn't miss anything. Rolf's trial was boring and the 'big reveal' that Hans made towards the end was expected.
This is probably one of those series where you have to read all the books to get the full picture, but I won't be joining anyone in that reading journey. Not until this book understands that you have to be respectful of the horrific events of WWII - not more or less laugh at the conditions of the refuges and make poor word choices.
All in all - an okay read. I didn't hate the book, I just disliked how convenient everything was toward the end.
January 9, 2009
Berlin, 1945
Major Rolf Schulmann lies close to death in a military hospital after enduring the horrors of a concentration camp. Revived from a coma through a priesthood blessing, he slowly returns to health as his fiancée, Marie Jacobson, tenderly cares for his deep physical and spiritual wounds. Meanwhile Rolf ’s best friend, SS Lieutenant Hans Brenner, begins to overcome the despair and depression of his postwar gutter-rat existence as he finds himself falling for Natalie Allred, a beautiful American nurse.
But as the world’s emerging superpowers race to obtain nuclear secrets, Hans becomes a pawn in the deadly game—and Natalie’s freedom hangs in the balance. Rolf, unaware of their predicament, feels haunted by his Nazi past and seeks peace of conscience through the rigors of a military tribunal. Then, as tensions escalate between the United States and Russia, Rolf and Hans find themselves on opposite sides of the conflict.
With vivid emotion, Tribunal explores the risks and rewards of loyalty and love in the bitter aftermath of world war.
Tribunal is the sequel to Traitor.
There must be another book. I need to know what happens to Hans Brenner. I think that he was taken by the Americans to help them in some other game but not quite shore. She must wright another book, it is too mean for us readers to keep us hanging! What is going on with Hans Brenner???
Major Rolf Schulmann lies close to death in a military hospital after enduring the horrors of a concentration camp. Revived from a coma through a priesthood blessing, he slowly returns to health as his fiancée, Marie Jacobson, tenderly cares for his deep physical and spiritual wounds. Meanwhile Rolf ’s best friend, SS Lieutenant Hans Brenner, begins to overcome the despair and depression of his postwar gutter-rat existence as he finds himself falling for Natalie Allred, a beautiful American nurse.
But as the world’s emerging superpowers race to obtain nuclear secrets, Hans becomes a pawn in the deadly game—and Natalie’s freedom hangs in the balance. Rolf, unaware of their predicament, feels haunted by his Nazi past and seeks peace of conscience through the rigors of a military tribunal. Then, as tensions escalate between the United States and Russia, Rolf and Hans find themselves on opposite sides of the conflict.
With vivid emotion, Tribunal explores the risks and rewards of loyalty and love in the bitter aftermath of world war.
Tribunal is the sequel to Traitor.
There must be another book. I need to know what happens to Hans Brenner. I think that he was taken by the Americans to help them in some other game but not quite shore. She must wright another book, it is too mean for us readers to keep us hanging! What is going on with Hans Brenner???
November 10, 2010
this is a must read. It continues the story of German Lieutenant Rolf and his friend Hans Brenner in the post world war. Brenner has found Rolf after he has been released from the concentration camp from being named a traitor by his country for saving and hiding his fiance a spy from France. He traded his life for hers. Rolf is in a bad way physically from all his body has endured but his soul is tortured for all the horrible things he was ordered to do for his country. Hans stays with him in Berlin at a hospital and meet Natalie a nurse there. A professor from the past tries to blackmail both the nurse and Hans to work for the soviet union. Marie and Rolf pull together through his recovery and his war crimes trial, but will Professor Jacobson ever accept Rolf as his future son-in-law? Hans find the gospel in his struggles to keep himself and those he love alive. In the end scene, he asks Natalie to marry him and she accepts. Then he willingly goes back to Lieutenant Rostov in order to help Major Matthews and the Americans and he believes to ensure Natalie"s safety and his American passport when he returns. Rolf and Marie go to London as Rolf tries to uproot the secret whereabouts of Nazi officials that are trying to start support for their causes.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 25, 2009
I only gave this three stars first of all because I will never be a fan of lds (Mormon) fiction. This is the second book in the story and in a lot of ways I felt like it was the same story all over again. The plot was very interesting though. But all of the little twists to the story started to be overwhelming and made the story a little far fetched. The character development I thought was very good. I liked how the author developed the bad guy (Viktor) the best. I couldn't tell if he was good, bad, or insane. I liked that. I read the book in only 4 days because of the romance in the story (which was also a little far fetched). I'm a succor for a good romance. The main reason I wanted to read this book was because the first book didn't really have an ending. It was more of a "to be continued...". (I hate not knowing what happens next.)While this book had a better ending is still left enough loose ends for another book. I probably won't go out of my way to read the next book but that's more because of me then the book itself. Overall I think this book was better than the first.
March 11, 2010
I loved this sequel to Traitor; in fact I liked the sequel better than the first book. I wish that I could give this book 4 1/2 stars. I was able to jump into this novel faster than the first one, mainly because I "knew" the characters from the 1st book. It was good to find out what happened to Rolf, after he was left in such a precarious position in Traitor. I absolutely love the character of Hans Brenner. He is a true, selfless hero.
I like Sandra Grey's writing style; it clicks with me. The way that the history is written is very interesting. The time period in this book takes place after WW2 has ended. Overall, this was a quick read for me and was very enjoyable. Congratulations Sandra on writing another fabulous novel!
Tribunal is one of the 5 Whitney Awards Finalists in the Best Historical Fiction category. It is a very tough category, with many wonderful books up against Tribunal. Go to www.whitneyawards.com to read about the other books that are nominated along with Tribunal.
I like Sandra Grey's writing style; it clicks with me. The way that the history is written is very interesting. The time period in this book takes place after WW2 has ended. Overall, this was a quick read for me and was very enjoyable. Congratulations Sandra on writing another fabulous novel!
Tribunal is one of the 5 Whitney Awards Finalists in the Best Historical Fiction category. It is a very tough category, with many wonderful books up against Tribunal. Go to www.whitneyawards.com to read about the other books that are nominated along with Tribunal.
January 11, 2012
I really didn't like this one for the first 100 pages or so. The last book left off on a cliffhanger for Rolf and Marie and this book focused on different characters. It was hard for me to care about them and their storyline bored me at first. I was severely tempted to skip to the Rolf and Marie parts. Fortunately, with time, I was able to care about the other characters and the book included more of Rolf and Marie. I also would have appreciated more psychological depth. I found it weird that the reader doesn't learn anything about the year that Rolf spent in a concentration camp and the effects that experience surely had on him. I was disappointed that part of his life was completely skipped over.
Despite all of this, I enjoyed the book- especially the end. It's a quick and easy read. I look forward to seeing how everything wraps up in the last book.
Despite all of this, I enjoyed the book- especially the end. It's a quick and easy read. I look forward to seeing how everything wraps up in the last book.
April 4, 2016
As soon as I finished Traitor I put this book on hold at the library. It was a long week to wait for it to come in. This book follows the character of Hans, who is introduced in Traitor. Again, I loved the history I learned through the story and enjoyed watching the characters. I don't think I liked it quite as much as Traitor, but I wonder if that is because I expected it would be about the same characters as Traitor and then didn't see much of them in the first half of the book. I also felt that the climax at the end was tied up a little too fast--but again, perhaps I was just used to these poor characters being on the wrong end of the blessing stick. this was a great book and I'm so excited to read what Grey comes up with next.
March 16, 2011
Although not as good as Grey's earlier book, Traitor, Tribunal is almost as good, and deals with a time and place in history--Berlin and the rest of Europe just after World War II--that is not as well covered in most people's history classes and reading. The cover art is terrible and the story is not just the continuation and resolution of the first book, as some will expect, but also continues the story of Rolf's friend, Hans Brenner, and his relationship with an American nurse, Natalie. The story of Rolf and his sweetheart, Marie, is continued to a degree. I hope there is a third book coming that will tie up all the loose ends. Better than much LDS fiction, but if you want a great LDS view of World War II, I highly recommend Dean Hughes' "Children of the Promise" series.
October 22, 2012
Tribunal is the sequel to Traitor. If you haven't read Traitor yet read it first. It is amazing! Tribunal is almost just as good as Traitor. (The reason it is not better is because it is not quite as original, or new. Of course it is almost impossible for a sequel to be as original as the first since it depends upon the first novel.) The reason I love Tribunal is because of the hope it offers. It shows us that there is hope for all of us. That was can be forgiven. In it a Nazi officer faces a Tribunal for the things he has done and justice is served. He comes to realize that the most important Tribunal isn't the earthly Tribunal, but the heavenly one. He finds peace for himself. I think that is the most important part of it.
November 1, 2012
This is #2 in the series. I read Traitor and enjoyed it immensely and Tribunal did not disappoint. Again, the historic research and development were fantastic, the characters feel like old friends and I found myself cheering them on all the way. The descriptions of post-war Europe felt very real to me, and I appreciated that the author did not 'sugar-coat' some events and descriptions- it WAS bad after the war. I also felt very inspired by the main characters moral fortitude and personal strength- they are normal people in abnormal circumstances, and they stay true to the faith, even when it's not immediately rewarding.
Tribunal is #2 in the series (Traitor is book #1 and Trespass is book #3).
Tribunal is #2 in the series (Traitor is book #1 and Trespass is book #3).
February 25, 2009
I really enjoyed this book. It is a sequel to Traitor which I read last summer at my mom-in-laws. Finally got to get the rest of the story, except that now I have to wait for the third! Drat! I may have liked this one even better than the first because it is set right after the war and has a lot to do with the division of power, resources, and the race for technology between Russia and the other Allies. I think that time period gets ignored because I think, "Ok. We won and we all lived happily mostly after." But I forget about all the ramifications of the war on the history that came afterward.
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December 30, 2018I picked this book up because I thought the author's first book, Traitor, was decent. Wasn't too impressed with this one. During the first third of the book I kept thinking that Sandra Grey must have been up against a tight publishing deadline and so decided that spell check and grammar check were the only forms of editing she needed. The only reason I kept reading was because I like Hans and wanted to see what happened to him. The last half of the book did get better. The plot was interesting, but the writing style didn't quite do it for me. Grey left it open for another book with the same characters. I won't rule out reading it, but it's on a very low priority list.
August 22, 2009
I would like to give an extra half star. This second novel is much better than the first. It's still heavily LDS fiction - but the story is still interesting... or I'm just easy.
I want happy endings for my characters... so this one was satisfying in that sense.
This was interesting to read about the aftermath of war - the rebuilding, the trials, suffering... things we don't really think about.
Overall - I could do without the horrible cover art. They couldn't have picked more dull people to place on both covers. Wish they'd just had inanimate objects instead of photos of dull models.
I want happy endings for my characters... so this one was satisfying in that sense.
This was interesting to read about the aftermath of war - the rebuilding, the trials, suffering... things we don't really think about.
Overall - I could do without the horrible cover art. They couldn't have picked more dull people to place on both covers. Wish they'd just had inanimate objects instead of photos of dull models.
September 21, 2011
What took me so long? I finished the first in this series of 3 last summer and was anxious to pick up the next two - they have been sitting on my shelf for almost a year and I finally got around to reading it! It was wonderful! Grey weaves the history of this post-WWII story through a very different angle. It is about a Nazi major who is also a member of the church - I know it sounds a little corny but I couldn't put it down! This second book brings in a new character - nurse Natalie - also LDS. There is action, history and even a little bit of romance. I've started on the third and final to the series; I didn't want to put this off for another year.
February 2, 2011
Rolf and Hans are trying to get through the war as they also try to stay alive. This book has more history of what happen to people during the war. Rolf is tried for war crimes after the end of the war and Maria tries to find someone that knows what Rolf really tried to do to help the people during the war. Hans is trying to save himself and Natalie from another evil character and being dragged off to Moscow. This is a vital point in the book as you find out that there are good people in r that have to do bad things.
I listened to both books on tape and loved the reader. He had great accents for all the different nationalities and genders.
I listened to both books on tape and loved the reader. He had great accents for all the different nationalities and genders.
April 4, 2009
To be fair I only got about 30 pages into this, and maybe I will return to it another day when I am in the mood for this kind of story.
But I was really annoyed that the story jumped A WHOLE YEAR past the previous book in the series, Traitor. I felt like the author took the easy way out and missed out on some great storytelling in the process.
Plus I was worried about sledging through this book just to have it "end" like the first- no end at all, just a set up for the next in the series.
But I was really annoyed that the story jumped A WHOLE YEAR past the previous book in the series, Traitor. I felt like the author took the easy way out and missed out on some great storytelling in the process.
Plus I was worried about sledging through this book just to have it "end" like the first- no end at all, just a set up for the next in the series.
January 24, 2009
The events in both "Traitor" and "Tribunal" are so realistic. I love the characters. My heart ached for Rolf and Marie. You wonder if they will ever be able to live a normal life. Rolf is such a good man he accepts every judgment made against him. And, Marie stands by him every minute. In the meantime, Hans and Natalie have to fight their own demons--Russia. I was thinking to myself, which would be worse Nazi torture or Russian blackmail. Both seem to be extremely painful. The ending is another cliff hanger.
March 26, 2025
The sequal to Sandra Grey's Traitor was a well researched historical novel taking place in post WWII Berlin. I was dying to see what would happen to Rolf and Marie and was happy with the result. Although I liked the first book better (I'm a sucker for a good love story, especially one against all odds) I enjoyed this story and was pleased that the character of Hans, Rolf's best friend and adopted brother, was more developed. I hope there is a third book because I felt that the ending of this one left me hanging and seemed a bit rushed.
October 30, 2010
My husband and I listened to this book and the first in this series, Traitor, and we really enjoyed them both. We both love history, so we learned a lot from the underlying story. Having the romances going on, and the Mormon church doctrine and history during the war just added to the interest in the story line. The characters in this book are very well developed. I was drawn to each one and was anxious to know what would happen to them in their trials and experiences. We hear there's another book in this series forthcoming. We are ready for it.
September 11, 2012
This is the follow-up to Traitor, and I thought it was just as good. For one thing, it discussed post-war Germany and the beginnings of the Cold War, which is a time period I really am not very familiar with at all. The book follows up with some of the characters from the first one and introduces some new ones, but they all remained compelling and 'real' to me. A review I read of Grey's books pointed out that they may look like standard LDS romances or thrillers, but the writing is much more polished and mature than a lot of what is out on the market; I agree.
March 19, 2009
So when i started reading this book i didn't know that it was the secound one out of her novels. So after i finished it and was looking around for another book to read, i found out that this is her secound. I was very upset but oh, well, it was a good book anyway.And today(Which just to tell you is not the same day i wrote that, up above this.) (3/19/09) Is when i read the firat book, it was very good better than the last.
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