Customer Reviews

Bearing Witness: A Rachel Gold Novel (Rachel Gold Novels)

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It's not often in a book that the heroine and her allies are so good, and the guys on the other side so bad that you utter a verbal "Yes!" when they get their comeuppance, but in happens in this marvelous continuation of the too-often-overlooked Rachel Gold legal-detective series by Michael Kahn. Taking on the age-discrimination suit of her mother's friend leads to a captain of industry with swastikas in his past and, with her oddball friend Prof. Benny Goldberg and his legal-research irregulars on the case, Rachel parries all the legal roadblocks a multimillion-dollar legal staff can throw at her in unraveling a long-buried puzzle. This sets up an unforgettable and unforgettably dramatic courtroom confrontation. And woven throughout the fabric are a reverent look at the suffering of the Jews, even in the United States, before World War II. And, oh, yes, there's a sweet, growing romance, too. And it all works together. This is a book I've savored even more afterward than when I read it, and I keep coming back to that courtroom confrontation and going "Yes!"

I have enjoyed all of the Rachel Gold series novels. However, this one may be the very best. It combines humor, history and an incredible plot .The book has a very poignant side concerning anti-semitism. I don't think anyone could read it without shaking their head in disbelief at the acts of anti-semitism portrayed in the book. Rachel Gold and Benny Goldberg are my favorite mystery duo. I went through this book non-stop. One of my favorite humorous references was to Graceland. Rachel likened the jungle room in Graceland to a hill billy decorator on LSD let loose in a Pier One Imports store. Having just visited Graceland the month before that was a most accurate description. I highly recommend this book for both the fun and serious side of the plot. I do hope Mr Kahn continues the Rachel Gold series.

I have been a fan of Rachel Gold since Michael A. Kahn's first book came out, and the waiting time for "Bearing Witness" was way too long. But was worth it! This is his best ever! A very serious subject as well. I had gooseskin reading it. Considering that I live in Switzerland and that we went through serious times here with our banks and the Holocaust money, the book came at a really appropriate time. I hope there are many more Rachel Gold stories in the pipeline.

I discovered Rachel Gold through a short story in EQMM - thank heaven, as I don't think I would have found them otherwise; for anyone who is looking for a terrific mystery, interesting characters and courtroom drama - run don't walk to buy one of Michael Kahn's Rachel Gold books.

This is, by far, the best of the lot; full of history (Nazi treasure), present day issues(age discrimination and excellent sleuthing. The plotting and the characters are so well drawn that I find I have re-read this book several times even though I know "who dun it" and enjoyed it all over again.

The Rachel Gold stories take place in St. Louis. I live in St. Louis and this is what initially drew me to these books. The first several books in this series were ok, but sometimes the story lines were rather light weight.

This current book, Bearing Witness, is different. It is a serious, heavy weight story, that is absolutely absorbing. The book starts out a little slow. It took a few chapters before I really got into it. But once it grabbed me, it would not let go.

The investigation of 50 years old incidents revolving around the Nazis and Hitler was riveting. Michael Kahn tells the story in a very suspenseful way. It is truly a page turner to be enjoyed by all who like exciting storytelling with a good dose of history thrown in.

I look forward to the next book in this series.

Perhaps the toughest area of anti-discrimination law to prove is age discrimination. However, St. Louis lawyer Rachel Gold accepts the case of Ruth Alpert, a sixty-three year old secretary, suing her employer the Goliath, Beckman Engineering. Rachel finds a strong witness with plenty of evidence in Gloria Muller, former wife of a construction company CEO doing business with Beckman Engineering. However, in front of her eyes, gunmen kill Gloria.

Rather than dropping the now dangerous litigation, Rachel, with assistance, begins to review boxes of information on Beckman Engineering. She soon sees a link back to a World War II cabal, Jewish activism, and an anti-Semite group. How that all ties together with a modern day Neo-Nazi group requires more library research and persuading a judge who prefers the rich and famous to the common masses.

BEARING WITNESS is a pleasant surprise to anyone who has had to do extensive library research on a project. The astonishment is how exciting author Michael A. Kahn makes this tedious work seem. The story line is exciting and the tie-in between St. Louis' history and the present is cleverly constructed. Rachel and her boyfriend provide an insightful glimpse of the conflict between the assimilation of the Jewish people vs. the Orthodox tradition. Although the support cast never quite develops enough to propel the plot forward fast enough, Michael A. Kahn provides an entertaining novel that makes even paper research seem fun.

Harriet Klausner

Michael Kahn's books seem to just keep getting better and better. This is an absorbing and sobering adventure with Rachel, Benny and the rest of the crew. Rachel's relationship is progressing nicely with the "Wolf Man" and I hope it continues in future books. Keep writing PLEASE -- when you are sitting at your computer late into the night, be assured your fans are eagerly awaiting your next Rachel Gold adventure!

Just finished reading this Rachel Gold mystery. This is my fourth one and I have enjoyed them all. However, in this one, Michael Kahn kicks it up a few notches. In this book he tells the tale of Ruth Alpert. Her case evolves from an age discrimination suit to a qui tam case. Michael Kahn does a good job of explaining what a qui tam case is. He also re-educates us on Kristallnacht, die spinne and April 20, 1898 which are events none of us should forget. I live in the area of St. Louis and I loved the descriptions of Union Station (the Arch of Whispers)and the restaurants he names in the book. I can picture everything. Keep on writing.

a legal thriller worthy of the name. an age discrimination case evolves into a multi-million dollar whistle-blowing expose. narrative flow is steady if occasionally ponderous. nice balance of trial prep,personal travails and courtroom squirmishes- all fueled by an inescapable desire to root for the good guys.

I loved this book! I have guilty feelings though because as I sat reading it on Sunday, I ignored my family all day because I couldn't put it down. I have always enjoyed the Rachel Gold character as well as her supporting characters, and I found this particular story exciting, interesting,and fast paced. Now,unfortunately, I have to wait for the next one. Mr. Kahn, do you have to wait so long between books? If you have never read a Rachel Gold novel,I'm sure you would enjoy this anyway, but go back and read the others, it's a great series.