Beyond the Wire. James D. Shipman. 2022. 349 pages. [Source: Library]
First sentence: The screams faded. Jakub hunted through the coat of a dead man. He searched with a practiced hand, groping through pockets, fingering seams. He felt something hard. Eyes forward, he tore at the fabric, ripping open a secret pocket. An object fell into his hand, circular and metallic. A watch. He glimpsed a flash of gold.
Premise/plot: Beyond the Wire is a historical novel set at Auschwitz-Birkenau circa 1944 through 1945. Jakub, our protagonist, has managed to survive the concentration camp...so far. But at great cost. His job, one of the 'cozier' jobs of the camp, is to go through the possessions of the new arrivals--those soon to be gassed/murdered. He is able to steal here and there enough to keep the guards bribed. He can buy extra food. He can buy his way into the women's camp to socialize. Anna, our second protagonist, is Jakob's girlfriend. They meet secretly. He is her protector. But they have secrets from one another... Jakob has been approached multiple times by Roch Laska, a prisoner who is plotting a revolt/revolution. Tomasz, Jacob's best-friend-and-companion, is dead-set against Jakob joining such a plot/scheme. Anna is "for" him joining, by the way. But soon he finds himself mixed in with the rebellion...for better or worse...and it starts with someone who is threatening Anna.
My thoughts: This is a very intense read. The author has a note on which elements of the story are 'true' and which are pure fiction. I believe the main characters--our two protagonists--are fictional. This one is packed with action and heartache.
© 2023 Becky Laney of Becky's Book Reviews
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