Customer Reviews

Amongst My Enemies

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

"Amongst My Enemies" grabs you and just does not let go. William Brown has a very strong sense of his characters and this shines through in his novel. "Amongst My Enemies" is a tale told near the end of WWII and the years after. The main Character, a door gunner on a B-17, is of two survivors following the downing of the bomber over Germany.

They are caught and wind up in Konigsberg on the north cost of Germany. His friend is suffering badly under the brutal treatment they receive working as slave labor in the Naval pot. Eventually frostbite turns to gangrene and the main Character, Mike Randall, must help his friend end his suffering. It is a traumatic moment that Brown pulls off with both a powerful descriptive voice and sensitivity for the men trapped in an emotional meat grinder.

Randall carries the horror of those moments for the rest of the novel. A thirst for revenge and a determination to see justice served on the men who slaughtered millions during that brutal war become harsh taskmasters for Randall.

Without letting any spoilers creep into this review, allow me to state that is very much a `period' piece; yet it serves to illustrate William Brown's masterful abilities as a researcher and an interpreter of history. His knowledge of the period and his ability to present his characters as much more that cardboard cutouts serves him well in presenting a thriller from the post-war years.

I strongly recommend this one.

Inside an old German U-Boat rusting on the bottom of the Baltic are millions in gold bars, stolen art, and a secret that could tear NATO apart. The only one who knows the truth is Mike Randall, a battle-scarred American who survived four months in the frozen Hell of northern Germany at the end of the war. When he does speak up, he puts a target on his own forehead, one which the Russians, the West Germans, the U-boat's former owners, the Israeli Mossad, and even his own government quickly take aim at. Some want the gold, some want him dead, and some want proof about a high-ranking spy inside NATO itself. Randall's wants are much simpler. Caught between the Kremlin and a new, deadly, 4th Reich, he wants revenge and to satisfy some old debts with a steel-jacketed bullet....

My Review-

This is actually the first novel of this genre that i have read and reviewed. And I'm glad i did! This book kicks off from the start and grabs the readers attention and doesnt let go. It has a little bit everything. Mystery, intrigue, suspense and even some romance. The main character is an all american type that you can really understand and sympathize with. The story is so real you can feel yourself feeling what the characters feel. The suspense is edge of your seat and keeps you wanting to keep reading to find out what happens next. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and will be looking for more from this author!

Mike Randall's bomber went down in Germany during the war. He and his friend Eddie survive for months as slave labor in the freezing battle scarred land. Eventually, Eddie succumbs to frostbite, and Mike is more determined than ever to survive. He promised Eddie he would visit his family and let them know what really happened, and he aims to keep it.

A high ranking officer of the 3rd Reich purloins an old U-boat to haul millions of dollars' worth of artifacts and gold for his own personal reasons. Fortunately for Mike, he escapes his labor truck and stows away on the submarine before it leaves. The captain finds him, a German who doesn't agree with the politics but wants to stay alive, and he gives Mike mercy - food, shelter, warmth. He also puts Mike on a black rubber raft near the shores of Sweden, neutral territory where Mike can eventually find his way home. But while Mike was on the raft, the U-boat, surfaced, is bombed by overhead jets. There are no survivors.

Mike spends time in Sweden then eventually makes his way home to America, to Eddie's house. There, he falls in love with Eddie's sister Leslie, even though he doesn't pursue the relationship. After all he has been through; he can't imagine pulling anyone else into his nightmares. Then, something surprising happens. The captain of the U-boat Mike was on is touring and making a stop in New York. Mike was sure he was dead, so he immediately wants to go see him and to thank him for his chance.

When Mike confronts the man, he acts surprised. Mike is sure that it is an imposter. With the help of Manny, a retired police detective, Mike divulges what he knows. But before they can investigate, there is an attempt on Mike's life. Not sure what is going on, Manny implores Mike that he needs to go back to Sweden and find the U-boat.

Mike can't even remember where the U-boat went down; just a vague idea. With Leslie and Manny with him though, he decides to give it a shot. Will he live long enough to find it? With some wanting gold, some wanting proof that there is a spy inside NATO and some just wanting Mike and his friends dead, there is a lot of ducking and conniving to outsmart them, but will they? How high of a cost are they willing to pay?

Amongst My Enemies is an intelligent, powerful and thought-provoking adventure. A tale rich in history unfolds, leaving the reader begging for more. Brown's characters are compelling, sharp and authentic. From freezing Germany to bustling New York to the fishing wharves of Sweden, Brown takes the reader on an unforgettable journey. Suspense, murder, romance, heart-pumping action scenes and spectacular writing, Amongst My Enemies is one of the best old-fashioned adventures I've had the pleasure to read. Definitely pick this one up!

This is a great story about after WW II and human condition. We are introduced to Mike Randall, the unlikely hero of the story, and we are taken on his journey to right the wrongs created by the war. The author has created a very broken man who you feel for and only want him to find peace. You also meet other amazing characters from the SS Officer Heinz Kruger to the old Viking Einar Person. When the story starts we see Mike and his best friend Eddie working in the bitter cold forced labor camps in Konigsber, slowly dying. After Eddie's death, Mike vows revenge for his best friend. We read how Mike escapes and ends up on a U-Boat where the adventure begins. After years of Mike struggling with survivor's guilt, he finally goes back to the United States to Eddie's home and there we meet two very lovable characters. Eddie's good Old Southern Dad and his very outspoken sister Leslie. Mike helps the family out and slowly falls in love with Leslie, but than a turn of events take him away from Leslie and off to NYC. At this point in the book I was worried it would turn into a romance, but thankfully the author stays true to the characters and Mike is still trying to deal with his survival guilt.

When Mike arrives in New York City, the action picks up and the author makes sure you don't want to put the book down. We are again introduced to several characters but this is when the book start to feel really modern with the chase and escape scenes. After doing my own research I learned everything the author wrote was true to the time. I had no idea in WWII silencers were used on pistols. Amazing what you can learn when reading a book of fiction.

The adventures continue to Sweden and the search for the U-Boat. Everyone is after the boat and its treasure it might hold. I personally feel this is where it is easy to get a little bored as the author jumped back and forth between several different characters. Even good books have their slow parts and the jumping back and forth between Mike, his story, and than to the Russians slowed the pace of the book down a little. Again the author brings us one the most evil characters in this book, the SS Officer Heinz Kruger, who even scared me and I wasn't sure who would live and who would die. At some points in the book I wanted to yell at Mike and say "How can you not tell he's evil?!"

The book ends with Mike taking his revenge and the reader can only hope he finally found his peace and can become a new man.

This book was a fast paced thriller and kept me on the edge of my seat from beginning to end. I couldn't put it down so if you are someone who loves intrigue, fast paced adventures this novel is perfect for you. I completely enjoyed this read from beginning to end and I'm grateful I had the chance to read it. I can't wait to read more from this author.

Thanks Heidi for this fabulous review.

This was a very suspenseful, edge-of-your seat thriller about the closing days of World War II and the political chaos the followed it. Mike Randall was a gunner on a B-17 until the plane was shot down over northern Germany with only he and his friend Eddie as survivors. They were sent to do forced labor in Konigsberg. Eddie develops gangrene and begs Mike to find a way to let him kill himself after invoking a promise that Mike go to Eddie's family after the war to let them know what happened.

Shortly after Eddie's death Mike gets conscripted to load crates and boxes into a German U-boat and manages to stow away in the compartment with the crates. It seems the sub has been chosen by Martin Bormann as one of his treasure ships as he scrambles to get wealth out of Germany to South America. When the Captain finds Mike and realizes what is planned for his boat, he formulates a desperate plan. They aren't going to follow orders. They put Mike in a rubber boat and set him toward the shore of Sweden. But shortly thereafter, British bombers discover and sink the submarine. Mike is rescued by Swedish fishermen and spends three years in Sweden getting over the trauma of the war.

He returns to the United States and goes to visit Eddie's family. He is accepted as a family member by Eddie's father and his sister Leslie who has managed to grow up while Mike was recovering. Mike works there and begins a relationship with Leslie but he is determined to get revenge for the actions at the end of the war. When he sees a newspaper article saying that the U-boat captain who set him free survived the accident and is now a major player in the new NATO, Mike has to go to New York to see him.

That really throws a kink into everyone's plans because it isn't his captain. The Russians have set this guy up as an agent. Mike and Leslie quickly get involved with the new Israeli spies, the Russians, and the exiled Germans who want their loot back.

The story is told from a variety of viewpoints including Mike's, Martin Bormann's, his "strong right arm" and psychopath Heinz Kruger, and Verentsov, the Russian in charge of the change of admirals. Most of them converge off the coast of Sweden in the search for the sunken U-boat filled with treasure.

The story was exciting and engaging and really reminded me of some of the books written by Alistair MacLean that I read years ago. There was also a strong Tom Clancy feel in the machinations of the various spies (but without Clancy's techno-jargon) and character who was an ordinary guy who needs to survive in a arena that is foreign to him. Mike was an interesting character - an ordinary man who goes to extra-ordinary ends to get what he feels is justice.

If you are looking for a Cold War thriller, this one was very engaging.

I really enjoyed this story of Mike Randall and the U-Boat from Nazi Germany. The story had a very realistic feel to it. It made me want to go out and research some of the people listed in it to find out if they really existed and if this story follows what actually happened to them. The descriptions of the Nazi SS guys had me cringing for their victims.

This story did have a romantic interest for our main character, Mike Randall, but the romance felt like a hot fudge sundae. Full of chocolaty goodness, but no matter how fast you eat, the fudge is never hot when you reach the bottom.

Overall, this would be a great pick for history and suspense buffs. It felt real, like the author stole the idea from a headline news story!

** Note **

I received this book free from the author in exchange for an honest review. I received no chocolate or any other compensation in exchange for my review.

Mike Randall is an American pilot shot down during World War II over Northern Germany, treated mercilessly as a German POW to do labor in conditions where one wondered whether one would freeze or starve to death first. While there, his buddy is dying and Mike makes a choice that will haunt him for the rest of his days. As if that were not enough, he is taken on a job and stows away on a ship carrying valuables stolen by the Germans from the captured and murdered Jews. A German officer allows Mike to go free but what follows literally minutes after he is placed in a boat to go ashore is a burden that causes Mike to have a physical and mental breakdown! War is indeed hell for Mike Randall!

After being cared for by a kind Swedish family, Mike years later sees a news story that he knows he must follow-up on - the identification of a German officer who is not who he says he is. Not to spoil the story, a journey begins in New York and continues in Germany that involves an American detective, former German military who are hidden but ever-plotting, Russians who are looking to guarantee the spread of Communism, and numerous other sharks who will maim and kill just like all the others to guarantee their own wealth and power.

No, this is not just another war story! William Brown takes the reader to the heights and dregs of the human condition, giving glimpses to the motives and relationships that are ruled by head and heart, sometimes but not always balanced or whole. On the other hand, there are many characters who understand what Mike has endured and why he must bring some type of closure to the past and perhaps redeem the ghosts that haunt him on a daily basis. He surprisingly is drawn into a relationship with a spunky female whom he fears because of his secret that she doesn't know, but even there the author credibly leads them into a compassionate and passionate place.

This is a story that speeds along like a Ken Follett or Eric Ludlum novel of old. For those who love adventure, thrills, and mystery with a tinge of romance, this novel will leave you breathless and wanting more from this skillful writer. Splendidly written!

This story might be categorized as "historical fiction," but the second word almost seems incorrect--the historical details are so well interwoven and authentic that the reader will swear Mr. Brown lived through them. It might also be categorized as "a thriller"--there are thrills and suspenseful twists at every turn of the page. It might even be categorized as "a romance"--the two protagonists are as right for each other as Romeo and Juliet.

Perhaps it is best to categorize this story as a "tale of intrigue, adventure, and romance." It reminds me of Jeffery Deaver's Garden of Beasts and Frederic Forsythe's The Odessa File. It is the tale of Michael Randall, an unlucky POW at the end of WWII, and his quest for closure. Here closure means revenge, a desire so intense that it almost takes him into a dark place where everything else, including his love for Leslie Hodge, comes in a distant second place.

I read this novel in two evenings and then scanned it again with a more critical eye. That first comment means that "the book is a real page-turner" is the appropriate cliché, although this takes on a new meaning with eBooks (the book only has an eBook version). The second means that I considered it worthy of study. I'm a writer and I often do much more than just marvel at another writer's creativity--I try to learn from it. As entertainment, this story is much better than The Undertaker, the Brown book I reviewed previously. It is also very different and full of deeper meaning. It provides one answer to the eternal question: What must good men and women do when evil walks among them? Dean Koontz has made a career answering this question. Mr. Brown is off to a good start doing the same here.

I don't know if Mr. Brown is a diver. Living in Ohio, there's not much chance to practice locally, although I suppose people do dive in the Great Lakes. In any case, the descriptions of the dives off the old Swedish fishing boat down to a sunken U-boat are vivid and exciting. My own overly active imagination was put into over-drive by the underwater battles between the various parties trying to exploit the submarine's secrets. Two admirable characters died quickly in those waters off Sweden--the U-boat captain and the fat retired cop from New York. I grieved for them as if they were old friends. Both were complex characters--I bet that most readers will share my desire to know more about them.

I have two general complaints. For a more inferior work, they would be deadly. For a novel as good as Amongst My Enemies, I tend to overlook them. The book has both a weak beginning and ending. Let me consider first the ending. After taking the reader on a breathless marathon through most of the book, I found the last part describing the search for the Nazi mastermind to be all too brief. In fact, if I could write such a book, I would have spent many pages on this search and its outcome. As written by Mr. Brown, though, it was a bit of a letdown.

The beginning--two pages of historical prolog--gave away the climax that preceded the ending. I realize that the book is not a mystery. You know who the villains are and what they've done. Nevertheless, that beginning set my expectations. I was hoping for a twist, but it didn't come. Again, if I could write such a book, I would not have included this prolog. (I know agents who absolutely refuse to consider an MS with a prolog--a bit over the top, but I can understand their sentiments.) To an avid reader in the suspense genre, Mr. Brown's prolog gives away too much.

A very minor complaint is that some re-editing is in order. Various errors that confuse a spell checker are present, including additional or dropped words. Unlike some self-published books I've read or reviewed, these errors are not frequent enough to distract the reader and are not as common as I've seen in some books, especially eBooks, that originate from the big publishers, especially when they try to squeeze some more out of an old favorite.

In summary, Amongst My Enemies is a marvelous, suspenseful, breath-taking read set in a tumultuous era in Europe, the U.S., and Bolivia. I recommend it.

Michael Randall definitely did not come through the war unscathed. When his bomber was shot down, only he and his best friend Eddie Hodge survive the crash. They don't get very far before they are captured and sent to a frigid submarine port of Konigsberg as slave laborers. Beaten and starved on a daily basis, Eddie doesn't last long in this harsh environment. Michael vows his death will not be in vain and embarks on a harrowing journey when he stows away on a German U-boat. What happens on that submarine will set Michael's path for the next six years from Sweden to North Carolina and back to Sweden again. He has no idea that he is the linchpin involving Nazi war criminals, stolen loot, corrupt officials in Bolivia, the New York City police and the Israeli Mossad. Everyone wants to get their hands on Michael and learn what he knows about the demise of U-582.

The author does a fantastic job with the details and clearly did his research for this storyline. World War II espionage is not usually a subject I read, but Michael Randall is a compelling character that draws you in and makes you understand his personal hell and what drives him to do what he needs to do to avenge Eddie's death and finally to heal his wounded spirit. Rounding out the cast is his girlfriend Leslie, a NYC police officer, a former SS officer and a Swedish fisherman.

AMONGST MY ENEMIES is an exciting and intriguing story that will keep you turning the pages. My one criticism is the number of typos and extra words in the book. It could use the eyes of an editor to take care of these. Fans of WWII, political intrigue, and espionage will thoroughly enjoy this book. Recommended.

I'm not a fan of movies or books about World War II. And I don't normally read espionage thrillers. So I approached William Brown's "Amongst My Enemies" with something akin to hesitation, because it's a novel about World War II and its aftermath and Cold War espionage. But I had read and reviewed Brown's novel "The Undertaker" and really liked it, so I thought I would overcome my usual reluctance and read this new one.

I'd forgotten how much I could enjoy a good story, even if it is about subjects I don't usually read. And "Amongst My Enemies" is one good, nail biting story.

Michael Randall and Eddie Hodges are part of the American crew flying in a B-17 bomber. The plane is hit after a bombing run over Berlin; Randall and Hodges are the only crew members to survive. They're eventually taken prisoner and find themselves part of a prisoner labor gang in the east Prussian city of Konigsberg. Hodges gets frostbite which leads to gangrene; he convinces his friend to help him kill himself and extracts a promise: Randall has to survive and tell Hodges' family what happened - and the horror of Nazi Germany.

Randall's group of prisoners is forced to load a U-boat with all kinds of odd-shaped boxes - a U-boat reconstructed to carry cargo instead of torpedos. The operation is under the supervision of an SS officer, Heniz Kruger, who reports directly to Nazi chieftain Martin Bormann. What's inside the boxes is to be shipped to Argentina. Among his other qualities, Kruger enjoys killing people.

Randall is able to hide out on the U-boat but is found once the submarine is underway. The captain, "the last decent man in Germany's military," has Randall placed in a rubber dingy off the coast of Sweden. Minutes later, the U-boat is bombed and sunk by British fighter planes.

The shell-shocked American spends the next three years with the Swedish fish boat captain who plucks him from the Baltic. And then he returns to the United States to keep his promise to his friend.

I provide that detailed background because it sets the stage for what unfolds over the next four years. What Michael Randall knows about that U-boat will become of critical importance to the New York police, the new Israeli government, the Russians, the CIA and a very much alive Martin Bormann, who didn't die as reported in the final days of Hitler's Berlin. Bormann is very much alive in Bolivia - and has an able assistant named Heinz Kruger. And Bormann wants his U-boat.

Brown has done an enormous amount of research in writing this novel, from the details of a U-boat interior and the fishing industry in Sweden to Nazi politics and legends and underwater salvage operations. The novel is a fast, exciting read - the author excels at keeping the reader both gasping for air and reading on.

I still may not be a fan of World War II and espionage novels, but I am becoming a fan of William Brown."Amongst My Enemies" is a highly entertaining novel.