Defending Britta Stein: A Novel

I received a free electronic ARC of this novel from Netgalley. Ronald H. Balson, and St. Martin's Press. I have read this novel of my own volition, and this review reflects my honest opinion of this work. I love everything I have ever read by Ronald H. Balson. I think I shed more tears over this one than I did over Saving Sophie. It is always a good idea to be waiting in line when his books are published. They are one's I keep close, to read again. This is the sixth in a series featuring Liam and Catherine but is completely stand-alone. We have three wonderful women telling this story, a deeply nuanced tale of the steps we must go to to keep the past in balance in our hearts. Britta, now 92, a Chicago resident for many years, is a Jewish refugee from Denmark during WWII. Her grand-niece Emma lives close and tries to keep an eye on Britta, but she's a feisty one. Until the news of the Danish-American Association of Chicago's plans to honor 95-year-old Ole Henryks for his wartime rescues of Jewish families during the war. Britta knows Ole. Ole Hendricksen, as he was known in Denmark, was no hero. On the contrary, Britta recognizes him, even after all these years, as the man who was responsible for the deaths of her sister Grethe and her husband Lukas. Rather than saving the Danish Jews, he was responsible for selling them out to the Gestapo. It's often hard to be heard when you are a 92-year-old woman. But Britta has worked out a way to draw attention to the facts in this case. And with the help of investigator Liam Taggart and attorney Catherine Lockhart, she will see justice done. If she can live long enough.