Jewish Historical Fiction discussion

Dear fellow GoodReaders of the Jewish Historical Fiction

Though not "historical fiction," as you can see from the early reviews and comments below, my investigative memoir, What They Didn't Burn: Uncovering My Father's Holocaust Secrets was written with an eye toward fans of the historical fiction genre. Available in paperback, ebook and audiobook formats.

REVIEWS & EARLY PRAISE

Gabrielle Robinson, Author of Api’s Berlin Diaries
“… a gripping detective story of a savvy journalist uncovering “what they didn’t burn.” This beautifully written and deeply felt book, a powerful tribute to his father’s fortitude, also serves as a reminder that the long shadow of the Nazi past stretches over generations.

Asher Syed for Readers’ Favorite
The facts that emerge as the layers begin to truly peel back are stunning... Tightly written and compelling on every page, the progression of Dolek’s “luck” proves to be a terrifying endurance test. This is most certainly not luck. It is the grit and rapid intelligence of a man who can read a situation quickly to maximize the odds of survival.”

Ann Kirschner, author of Sala’s Gift
What a thrilling story of wartime survival!... Chasing after hidden diamonds and digging up damning Nazi documents, Laytner weaves a tale of courage and luck that brings to life an unforgettable cast of characters. A great detective story — and an important work of history.

Mort Laitner, Times of Israel
A master writer who paints pictures in your head that make you think you’re in the ghetto, in the camp and on the death march standing next to his father.

D. Donovan, Sr. Reviewer, Midwest Book Review
As he seeks corroboration and truth, readers become immersed in a journey that combines a family probe, a memoir, and a historical review under one cover….What They Didn't Burn: Uncovering My Father's Holocaust Secrets is essential for any collection that seeks a different perspective on Holocaust events. More so than most books on the subject, it juxtaposes the personal with the political, psychological, social, and moral and ethical issues facing survivors and Nazi executioners alike.

Robert Jan van Pelt, author of The Case For Auschwitz, Evidence from the Irving Trial
Mel Laytner’s What they Didn’t Burn is a remarkable historiographical achievement that blends the narrative pleasures of a detective story with the intellectual fireworks of a micro-history.”

Kenneth S. Stern, director, Bard Center for the Study of Hate
...A compelling blend of memoir and historical research, beautifully written. Laytner’s deeply personal story is an important addition to Holocaust literature, but will also resonate with a general audience as a historical detective story.

Scott Miller, author of Refuge Denied, The St. Louis Passengers and the Holocaust
I know of no other work that so eloquently succeeds in combining a dogged search for a Nazi paper trail of evidence and a son’s reconciliation with his family's Holocaust legacy. What They Didn't Burn is not only an engaging piece of rigorous research, but also a harrowing and heartwarming personal saga of discovery as well.

What They Didn't Burn: Uncovering My Father's Holocaust Secrets

Forgive me for Quvelling...WHAT THEY DIDN'T BURN just became an Amazon #1 BEST SELLER in its category.

Not fiction, just reads like it
"It's factual, but evokes strong emotions. It's not dry and dusty, instead reads like fiction through good writing. It doesn't dramatize or become hyper emotional for effect. It's just so real. So frighteningly real and true." -- Katarina, GoodReads Librarian

Today is the sixth anniversary of Elie Wiesel's yahrzeit.
If he were alive today, I wonder how he would react to the climate of of world today. Six years later, we certainly can measure what has changed and why.