The Small Boat Of Great Sorrows

Vlado Petric #2

by Dan Fesperman

The widely acclaimed author of Winter Work brings together chilling crimes, the lies people live and the cold facts of international politics into a “deft and gripping [thriller]. Impeccably written and ably plotted.… The action is more or less nonstop.” (The New York Times Books Review). Vlado Petric, a former homicide detective in Sarajevo, is now living in exile, and making a meagre living working at a Berlin construction site, when an American investigator for the International War Crimes Tribunal recruits him to return home on a mission. The assignment sounds simple enough. He is to help capture an aging Nazi collaborator who has become a war profiteer. But nothing is simple in the Petric is also being used as bait to lure his quarry into the open, and when the operation goes sour he is drawn across Europe into a dangerous labyrinth of secret identities, stolen gold, and horrifying discoveries about his own family’s past.

Genres: Mystery, Fiction, Thriller, Crime, Historical Fiction, Espionage, Suspense

322 pages, Kindle Edition

First published September 23, 2003

About the author

Dan Fesperman’s travels as a writer have taken him to thirty countries and three war zones. Lie in the Dark won the Crime Writers’ Association of Britain’s John Creasey Memorial Dagger Award for best first crime novel, The Small Boat of Great Sorrows won their Ian Fleming Steel Dagger Award for best thriller, and The Prisoner of Guantánamo won the Dashiell Hammett Award from the International Association of Crime Writers. He lives in Baltimore.

Reviews

[Mike Mason]

‘There’s an old joke about Herrzegovinan women. Why do the husbands always die before their wives? Because they want to.’ (Well I laughed…my wife didn’t).

Madeira holiday book#5 one of the Library finds here. Obviously discerning readers. As this is probably the most engaging, disturbing and historically interesting read of the holiday so far. Yes of course I have read book 2 in a series of…wait for it…2. But that is ever my way.

The story is based around an ex Bosnian detective- Vlado Petric - who had to escape from Sarajevo (grrrr book 1). He now lives with his wife and daughter in Berlin as a labourer. However, his past comes back to haunt him when the International War Crimes Tribunal want him for a sunbeam. (Oops sorry had watched a documentary on Nirvana in the UK on the flight over.) They want him to lure a WW2 murderer out back home to arrest.

At times this was like reading a le Carre in style and plot. That means it was ‘bloody brilliant’ to use the best descriptions from elite book reviewers of which I am not. It moves from Germany to Bosnia and the climax is in Italy. Vlado is betrayed by the CIA and other spooks. Finds out about his father and is almost killed twice. But the plot and writing style are gripping. I note that the Author has written tons of other books. I am off to the library here shortly as it is a changeover day and most will have returned books.

Ps typo on page 142 - ‘placed’ for ‘place.’

[Paula]

Very,very good.Better than the first.Pity the author didn't continue the series.

[Heather Williams]

Loved this beautifully written, intriguing thriller, set in Berlin, Bosnia and Italy. The main theme is chasing war criminals, but family history and the CIA, Police and the War Crimes Tribunal all feature. A thrilling and engrossing read.

[Jill]

War crimes, Balkan's war and WW2. Last 30 pages a great ride!

[Woody Chandler]

I do not remember how I got onto this series, but I am glad that I did! I recently read Len Deighton's "XPD", which dealt with WWII echoes down the corridor & the same thing happens in this one, with the WWII goings-on in Yugoslavia dripping into modern-day Italy & the Balkan countries that came into being in the early-to-mid 1990s.

Vlado Petric is recruited from his menial equipment operator job in Berlin to return to Sarajevo to help hunt war criminals, but just as in the first book, he is an unwitting pawn in a sprawling game. We learn more about him, his parents, his extended family and others than was revealed in the first book. I really hope that Fesperman continues this captivating series.

[Mark]

This was a very satisfying wrapup to the Vlado Petric pair of novels. In this novel, Vlado starts out in Berlin, where he now lives with his wife and daughter, working construction.

It appears his police days are behind him, until he is approached by an American representative of the International War Crimes Tribunal, asking him to help with the capture of a Croatian who was involved in death camp massacres in World War II.

Vlado agrees, but the real reason the authorities have approached him doesn't emerge until he's already on his way back to Bosnia, and it shakes his whole notion of who he is and who his family is.

I can't give away those details without spoiler alerts, but it gives him a very personal reason to pursue this particular war criminal, and of course, things do not go as planned.

The entire caper ends near Naples, where Vlado, his American compatriot, the Italian police and a mysterious American spy all converge.

As usual, Fesperman does a masterful job of creating tense and believable action scenes, but this novel also shines because you learn a lot about his family history and the privations and genocide that occurred in World War II.

Fesperman's skills as a journalist shine through in the extensive research, but so does his ability to write an action story that's full of humanity and gritty realism. Highly recommended.

[Linda]

I'm planning to read everything that Fesperman has written. He is a wonderful writer. This story follows the life of Vlado Petric,a Bosnian policeman who had to flee Sarajevo in the book Lie in the Dark. This story finds Vlado now working in Berlin at construction sites. An American from the Hague War Crimes Tribunal looks him up and offers him a job tracking down an picking up a Bosnian war criminal hiding out in a small Bosnian village. The story of the Balkans is fascinating and Fesperman is a very good writer. I read the 300 page book in a day and escaped completely into another world as I read.

[Stuart]

I've become a fan of a growing number of authors over the years. They have earned my allegiance by never letting me down, at least in any significant way.
Dan Fesperman is decidedly one of these authors. I don't want to waste time repeating what many other reviewers have already described- plot, character, etc.
I just felt compelled to record my high regard for Mr. Fesperman's writing.
Fortunately for me there are still a few novels of his I've yet to read. Good to have a great read to look forward to.

[Amra Pajalic]

A fitting sequel to Vlado Petric's story from Lie in the Dark the action begins in Berlin with Vlado as a refugee with his family. He is approached by an American, Calvin Pine, who is a War Crimes Tribunal who needs Vlado to help him plan an undercover operation against a war criminal. Over the course of the investigation Vlado finds out that there is a reason why he is being involved. The Small Boat of Great Sorrows is a great crime novel that also provides a great context to what was once Yugoslavia and its complicated past. Really enjoyed this.

[Vrennily]

Dan Fesperman is a fantastic writer! You can see that he is in touch with history and different places of the world. The plot thickens right from the beginning of the book and continues on until it finally resolves in the final chapter. I thoroughly enjoyed it.

[Mike Vines]

Vlado Petric, now a refugee in Berlin, is recruited to lure a WWII war criminal to a meeting in Bosnia. Seems straightforward but in the world of spies and secrets nothing is. Brilliant historical thriller! Remember to support your local, independent bookstores. They need you.

[Eric Stone]

Sort of the follow up to Lie in the Dark. Truly wonderful book, though if I had to go to a desert island with just one of them, it would probably be Lie in the Dark.

[Susan]

A book with great depth and history along with great sorrows. One of my favorite authors.

[Mavis Duncanson]

This is one of the best stories I have ever read

[Lucas Morgan]

I love historical events like this.
Boats and historical events are what make me love reading. Could you please share the sequel books of your series?

In fact, even though I started reading very late, I'm getting more and more immersed every day.

It is a great chance to read the books of important authors. I know that. I'm looking forward to your new books.

I am writing the importance of reading a book here for friends who want to read this book. I hope it will benefit sellers and customers...

Are the top 10 benefits of reading for all ages:

1. Reading Exercises the Brain

While reading, we have to remember different characters and settings that belong to a given story. Even if you enjoy reading a book in one sitting, you have to remember the details throughout the time you take to read the book. Therefore, reading is a workout for your brain that improves memory function.

2. Reading is a Form of (free) Entertainment

Did you know that most of the popular TV shows and movies are based on books? So why not indulge in the original form of entertainment by immersing yourself in reading. Most importantly, it’s free with your Markham Public Library card.

3. Reading Improves Concentration and the Ability to Focus

We can all agree that reading cannot happen without focus and in order to fully understand the story, we have to concentrate on each page that we read. In a world where gadgets are only getting faster and shortening our attention span, we need to constantly practice concentration and focus. Reading is one of the few activities that requires your undivided attention, therefore, improving your ability to concentrate.

4. Reading Improves Literacy

Have you ever read a book where you came across an unfamiliar word? Books have the power to improve your vocabulary by introducing you to new words. The more you read, the more your vocabulary grows, along with your ability to effectively communicate. Additionally, reading improves writing skills by helping the reader understand and learn different writing styles.

5. Reading Improves Sleep

By creating a bedtime routine that includes reading, you can signal to your body that it is time to sleep. Now, more than ever, we rely on increased screen time to get through the day. Therefore, by setting your phone aside and picking up a book, you are telling your brain that it is time to quiet down. Moreover, since reading helps you de-stress, doing so right before bed helps calm your mind and anxiety and improve the quality of sleep.

6. Reading Increases General Knowledge

Books are always filled with fun and interesting facts. Whether you read fiction or non-fictions, books have the ability to provide us with information we would’ve otherwise not known. Reading a variety of topics can make you a more knowledgeable person, in turn improving your conversation skills.

7. Reading is Motivational

By reading books about protagonists who have overcome challenges, we are oftentimes encouraged to do the same. The right book can motivate you to never give up and stay positive, regardless of whether it’s a romance novel or a self-help book.

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[Nigel Pinkus]

A very good read initially about a character by the name of Vlado Petric, a former homicide detective from Sarajevo (Bosnia and Herzegovina) who escaped the cold hard reality of a terrible war in the Balkans. The Balkans themselves were once known as Yugoslavia. But, after a terrible, brutal war which blew the country apart it eventually became Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia (including the regions of Kosovo and Vojvodina) and Slovenia. Anyway, Vlado and his family fled the country and finally found a new home in Berlin, Germany. Then, one day, after a long day of labouring out in the field, he was met by an American who was waiting for him at his home. The story then develops from there and doesn't it!

What sets this novel above other wartime thrillers is that Dan Fesperman's writing is divine. He is the master of the short novel where he doesn't waste words on endless descriptions about people and places. It is crisp and precise and there is a focus upon the present that always seems to change and then change again. Fesperman was able to write about war crimes in the Balkans, people trying to get on with their lives after war and the greed that some people have in just over three hundred pages. Whilst this person has read four novels from Fesperman which have all been quite good, this person thought that this one was the best of the bunch. Fantastic reading. **** 4.5 STARS.

Some other Dan Fesperman:
'The Cover Wife', 3 Stars.
'The Letter Writer', 3.5 Stars.
'Safe Houses', 4 Stars.
'Small Boats of Great Sorrows', 4.5 Stars.

Some other recommended reads about the Balkans include:
1. 'The Dealer and the Dead', Gerald Seymour. 2010.
2. 'The Monkey House', John Fullerton. 1996.
3. 'The Small Boat of Great Sorrows', Dan Fesperman. 2004.
NON-FICTION:
4. 'Media Cleansing: Dirty Reporting ~ Journalism and Tragedy in Yugoslavia'. Peter Brock. 1996.
5. 'NATO in the Balkans: Voices of Opposition'. Ramsay Clark et. al. 1998.

A Top 20 best spy fiction and non-fiction. (In order of date):
1. 'The Quiet American', Graham Greene. (1955).
2. 'The Spy Who Came in From the Cold', Le Carre. (1963).
3. ‘Funeral in Berlin’, Len Deighton. (1964).
4. 'Other Paths of Glory', Anthony Price. (1974).
5. ‘Harry's Game’, Gerald Seymour. (1975).
6. ‘Berlin Game’, Len Deighton. (1982).
7. ‘Home Run’, Gerald Seymour. (1989).
8. 'Other Kinds of Treason', Ted Allbeury. (1990). (SS)*.
9. 'The Line Crosser', Ted Allbeury. (1991).
10. 'A Polish Officer', Allan Furst. (1995).
11. 'Absolute Friends', John Le Carre. (2003).
12. The Slough House series by Mick Herron. (2010 ~ ).
13. 'A Treachery of Spies', Manda Scott. (2018).
14. 'A Long Night In Paris', Dov Alfon. (2019).
15. ‘The Insider’, Matthew Richardson. (2021).
16. 'The Scarlet Papers’, Matthew Richardson. (2023).
17. The Secret Hours’, Mick Herron. (2023).
*(SS): short stories.
and three best non-fiction spy reads:
1. ‘An Officer and a Spy’, Robert Harris. (2013).
2. ‘A Spy amongst Friends’, John McIntyre. (2014).
3. 'Agent Sonya', John McIntyre. (2020).

[Michael Martz]

"The Small Boat of Great Sorrows" is early Fesperman, set in the long ago 1990's and referencing conflicts in that era that many Americans only vaguely remember. It's a good reminder that for some parts of the world, war has been a constant.

The novel begins with Vlado Petric, a former detective in Sarajevo reduced to manual labor in Berlin after fleeing his country with his family, being recruited by a war crimes investigator to participate in a search for a couple bad guys from his homeland. Petric reluctantly agrees and quickly is placed in a dangerous situation, learning in the process that one of the targets of the investigation happened to have been a close associate of his deceased father in the post WWII timeframe. Their prey smells a trap and absconds, but Vlado learns some uncomfortable details about his father's past that fuels his desire to close out the investigation. The trail of the targets leads the investigators to Rome, where their efforts are impeded by an American State Department big shooter who obviously has an agenda of his own.

"The Small Boat..." is a decent mystery that, although it seemed to bog itself down at times, could have stood to have had a little more historical context. Nevertheless, the story was interestingly complex, the characters nicely drawn, and the writing fine.

[Ginny T.]

I thoroughly enjoyed Lie in the Dark, Fesperman's first novel about Vlado Petric, a Bosnian homicide detective in Sarajevo while it is under siege in the Bosnian war.
This novel takes place five years later, when Vlado is in exile. He's recruited for a mission back in Bosnia, and it is a tangled, dangerous story that links bad behavior both in WWII and the recent war in the Balkans. You have to concentrate to learn the Bosnian and Serbian names, as well as the many military, para-military, partisan and criminal factions in the fractured former Yugoslavia. I was not drawn into the story as I was in Lie in the Dark, but I went on because I liked Vlado.

The plot convolutions are deftly written, but I wasn't always sure what language the disparate characters were speaking with each other—the dialogue was fluid in all instances, even when a character was speaking a second or third language. I'll look for another Fesperman title later on, but I was not fully engaged in this one. (The title is great—it's taken from a Serbian epic poem.)

3.5 stars

[Therese]

What wouldn't be an exciting read with the Balkan wars, a couple of war criminals, and
Vlado Petric, a Berlin construction worker at the beginning of the book, detailed to the International War Crimes Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia, at The Hague, where his local knowledge of Sarajevo and its surrounding towns and villages are deemed important to the Tribunal? Petric had earlier been a police detective in Sarajevo until he escaped to Berlin to join his wife and daughter. He is recruited by Calvin Pine, an American investigator. Attending a high-toned reception at the home of the Chief Prosecutor, Petric becomes aware of the rivalries between some of the Americans, and between them and the French.
The Tribunal's main objective is to capture and try the man who ordered the massacre at Srebenica. But modern Balkan wars and atrocities do not happen in a vacuum. They are spawned by wars of the past and by the men who raped and murdered their neighbors of a different religion, because that was how things had always been, the endless cycles of killings and revenge. Vlado learns from Calvin Pine, who is to accompany him to talk to Pero Madek, a WW11 criminal whose partner had happened to be Vlado's own father Enver Petric. Included in this labyrinthine plot are the Pontifical Relief Commission for Refugees, the Croatian Augustinian monks at the monastery of San Girolamo in Rome who ran the "rat line" that helped Nazis and fascists to escape apprehension, many going to South America. Among these were Madek and Petric and the hoard of looted gold from the State Bank of Croatia which they were supposed to have taken to Castelammare, near Naples, where they lived under aliases from 1945 to 1961. People lose their heads over gold, not least Paul Harkness, the CIA man working at the US embassy in The Hague. This book is another example of a CIA operative acting purely in his own interests.

[Tiguidou]

Interesting/exciting plot, engaging read. The language struck me as excessively American at times though, distracting me from the story. I found it particularly unlikely that the protagonist would speak such flawless, idiomatic American English, given his background. The same applied to other non-native English speaking characters and it was even acknowledged in the writing, I think more than once, how idiomatic the language was. I guess the author has a thing for playing with idioms and colloquialisms.

[Jim C]

Compelling story line about Bosnian atrocities during 1990’s and how they were first promulgated during by WW2 when Croatian nationalists aligned with the Nazis and conducted mass killings. This novel ties the past & present with the discovered experience of the son of a perpetrator-as he discovers the extent of his father’s involvement. Bad actors arise from military & intelligence groups as they made ‘deals’ with war criminals. These ‘deals’ unravel as their expedience are questioned and still active deal makers try to cover their tracks.

[Susan]

Really the country is "the former Yugoslavia." Sarajevo and Berlin, where many refugees from the Balkin War ended up. If they were lucky enough to survive. This book mixes WW II and more recent the more recent war, telling the story of the ways the sins and grief of the earlier war remain festering. A very engaging read in every way.

[Jak60]

Like most of Fesperman's books, this is an intense, complexly plotted story; if anything, I'd dare say that here in some instances complexity borders confusion due to the intricacies of the story and of its characters.
But then again, the book is very well written and engaging enough to overcome that issue.

[David]

We catch up with Vlado in Berlin with his wife and daughter several years after leaving Sarajevo. He has created a life and is doing fine. Then he asked to get involved with another caper back in Sarajevo. Fesperman does a nice job of deepening the characters and telling an involved story. Sarajevo serves as a great background to all of it. Will Vlado be back again?

[Andrew Robinson]

I read Lie in the Dark, the first Vlado Petric book, several years ago. Now managed to get round to The Small Boat of Great Sorrows. A fantastic read that weaves together the aftermath of the civil war in Bosnia with the consequences of the Second World War.

[Reader.2-139-846]

The Wars, The Wars, Old Ones & New Ones…

.. throw in lots of intrigue, guile and secrets and you have a great tale!

Vlado is back. The upstanding, downtrodden Bosnian Cop is back in another story.

The great storylines, clever plots and deep thinking all go towards a great book.

[Cecile]

Thriller involving both the latest Bosnian war and the Second World War - with the main protagonist a former Bosnian policeman hired by the War tribunal in The Hague. Somewhat circumvoluted at the outset but reasonably entertaining ultimately.

[Jeff Carpenter]

I rate the first novel, Lie in the Dark, much more passionate and gripping. This story spends a lot of time picking its way through bureaucratic mazes of the spook business that is a bit too claustrophobic.

[Linda]

Need to read another book by Fesperman to decide if I like his writing.

[Peter Weissman]

Comparisons between Fesperman and John Le Carre are absurd.