Eli’s Promise

I am a huge fan of all of Ronald Balson’s historical fiction works. His stories are rich and powerful, and he is the master of drawing the reader into a world of suspense and mystery. Therefore, I was thrilled to receive an advance reader copy of his latest novel and winner of the National Jewish Book Award.

Eli’s Promise is a story of survival, justice and redemption, that will have you glued to the pages as Eli tells a story that spans decades. The story moves and weaves seamlessly through three different time periods. The reader is whisked back to 1939 Poland, 1946 Germany and 1965 Chicago.

1939: Eli Rosen lives with his wife Esther and their young son in the Polish town of Lublin, where his family owns a construction company. As a consequence of the Nazi occupation, Eli’s company is Aryanized, appropriated and transferred to Maximilian Poleski―an unprincipled profiteer who peddles favors to Lublin’s subjugated residents. An uneasy alliance is formed; Poleski will keep the Rosen family safe if Eli will manage the business. Will Poleski honor his promise or will their relationship end in betrayal and tragedy?

1946: Eli resides with his son in a displaced persons camp in Allied-occupied Germany hoping for a visa to America. His wife has been missing since the war. One man is sneaking around the camps selling illegal visas; might he know what has happened to her?

1965: Eli rents a room in Albany Park, Chicago. He is on a mission. With patience, cunning, and relentless focus, he navigates unfamiliar streets and dangerous political backrooms, searching for the truth.

Eli’s Promise paints a heartbreaking and vivid picture of Eli Rosen’s prominent family as they are slowly stripped of business, work, family and eventually their lives by the Germans.

As I read, I felt as though I was inside the pages of the book and connecting with the characters in each time period. I was with Eli through the decades as he worked to bring those to justice who used his family and others to line their own pockets and gain power.

Balson tackled a topic not often written about in WWII historical fiction, war-profiteering. I knew this was going on, and still goes on, but I didn’t know a lot about. In the story promises of protection were made and sold to those desperate to find a way to live. To the Germans and to profiteers, it was a game. As I read, I felt such a strong resentment against the characters that took advantage of others during such horrific and dangerous times. I’m so glad Balson brought greater light on those who prey on the weak and suppressed for their own gains.

This compelling book is one you will not want to miss. It is perfectly relayed, phenomenal, and a part of history that again reveals what WWII and post WWII was about. I finished this book in one day, and I know this is a story I will come back and reread.

Overall, Eli’s Promise is not to be missed for fans of stories about families, love, redemption, and historical fiction lovers like me. It will move you through the full range of emotions, as Balson has a way of creating a powerful, gripping and moving story.

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for this advance copy in exchange for my honest review.