Jacob Mitzak escaped Auschwitz at fifteen, and soon became famous to every Nazi war criminal in the world as The Hammer of Israel. In 1950’s New York City, Jacob will become the only man standing in the way of an emerging Fourth Reich on American soil. The Hammer of Israel is about to hit the Big Apple.Get to know Jacob Mitzak and then follow him through the Will Hessler series as Will’s future … Will’s future Mossad training officer!
This book is a novella at 25k words. Please note that this is light alternative history. While a great deal of research was put into the relevant details, some creative license has been taken with certain historical events.
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He escaped from a low camp and then he tracked war criminals. He worked hard but now there could be another uprising of them on US soil. Can he stop it before it overtakes the country? Will he be able to do it? See if he can stop it
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I love history, I think it’s important and that’s one reason I really love this series! The other reason is that it’s so well written, factual but not enough to lose me when I’m reading it. The characters are well rounded and believable with interesting and realistic dialogue. This book is another gem and well worth the short time it takes to read it! Although I received a copy from Booksprout I also went ahead and got my own copy from Amazon.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Both Jericho Black and Jacob Mitzak series are absolutely fantastic, I keep hoping for more and more. I love this historical content and I know that though this is fiction, this story still holds many historical truths. I love the characters and am so connected to them I miss them between books.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
The Hammer of Israel is a disturbing and exciting series of actions with a younger Jacob Mitzak, the Hammer – from his young life in Auschwitz to New York City and State.
The book is described as fiction in its details, but appropriate to the time. Sadly, unfortunately, very close to certain groups that indeed existed at that time in the NY/NJ metro area. As a young pastoral intern, and youth pastor, after returning from my studies in Germany, I was placed in a community that was the site of the second largest Neo Nazi Family camp after World War Two.
Photos and memorabilia shared with me by some folks who thought I might be sympathetic showed me that there was indeed a surprisingly large group of Reich supportive folks in that region at that time. Surprising to me in that it really would have been useful to know before being posted there, but also surprising in that my own Swedish family members mostly anglicized their names at that time because of harassment for even being suspected to be sympathetic to the Cause.
Jacob grew up in the streets of Munich at a time when there would have been little intervention, until hiding was forced for all Jews if they did not want to face deportation. First raised by a single mother, he became orphaned at the hands of a young officer, and was present at the death of his mother.
Saul Greenbaum took the orphaned Jacob under his wing, intervening so that he was trained and held a position where he was more likely to survive at the camp. As a valet for the Officer August Grosz, Jacob was able to move around the camp fairly freely, and carry messages for resistance folk like Saul as well as for August. Unfortunately, that exposed Jacob to areas within the camp where he observed unimaginable suffering by the Jewish people at the hands of the scientists the Americans would later want so desperately to save. August seemed a bit aloof, spoiled and clueless, with mostly his self interest in mind, but no real interest in the Reich or politics, except as they could benefit him.
Dr Jane Sutcliffe was a surgeon who had served on the battlefields of Europe, and helped Jacob to survive a particularly nasty later encounter in New York, where the real character of August comes into question. Jane was probably the closest thing to a young romance for Jacob, until an attack against her changed her as well.
Marin Sutcliffe, mother to Jane, seems to be a valuable resource – especially when young romance seems at an end.
Horrors from Europe are visited upon New York as another familiar figure from this series comes to light. Jurgen Steiner. Another former General, he seems to not be taken too seriously by US agencies, but is an orator with great power. Part of the Old Guard.
Jakob, Saul, Jane and Jurgen Steiner all are part of the Jericho Black series by the author. Plenty of background is given so it is easy enough to follow the story without having read the other books – but they are very much worth a good reading.
If you enjoy historical fiction, with related intrigue and actions, this is a great bunch of books – currently available on Kindle Unlimited!
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout, read the book on Kindle Unlimited, and am voluntarily leaving a review.
The Jericho Black Universe: The following well written books are all part of this universe and take place in a timeline from 1910 until 1980, as of January, 2019. The third book Retribution starts in 1980. All the storylines are carried throughout this series of books. The storylines are intriguing, suspense filled and so mesmerizing it’s hard for the reader to put down the book(s). I chain read all but Among Wolves, which I had already read and made me interested in reading the rest of the story. There are plenty of twists, kinks and surprises in all the additions. The pace is steady and fast, no bogging down with trivial fillers. The emotions range across the scale and even the harden reader goes “Oh my gosh.” occasionally. Nothing graphic, you just forget how depraved the human race is, especially in the pack (or herd) formation.
The characters are interesting and believable, and their dialog realistic. The reader is drawn into the stories and the author’s descriptions are clear and interesting. Most of the characters appear in all the stories or are mentioned for themselves or in past events. The characters run the gamut on personalities, frailties, strengths and levels of depravity and goodness. Nothing is graphic but everything is clear so the reader can make the violence as graphic as their imagination needs. History is a rich character that adds depth and understanding to the stories, which begins during WWII. I know a lot of this history and found the author did a great job with his historical presentation. Mr. Vezina did research his subject matter. After Among Wolves, the editing was much better with very few errors outside of comma usage, or lack of, in the others that I read. In a couple of the books, Mr. Vezina offers a PDF timeline for the JBU. There are more books than what I have read so far. Best to read in sequential order; keeps the excitement flowing and no spoilers that way. I purchased all but The Lion of Israel.
Never Forget, Prequel – The beginning of the JBU. Starting in Auschwitz, this introduction of Aleks Rosen, Saul Greenbaum and Jacob Mitzak. Along with some the rest of the characters that will come and go throughout the series. There are a couple of twists and surprises, along with an interesting showing of foresight, determination and survival through a horrible time and place in world history. 5*
The Hammer of Israel – This is my second favorite of this series; Among Wolves remains number one with me. Mainly about Jacob Mitzak and Jane Sutcliff and their metamorphoses from their experiences from WWII until 1952. There is a lot of violence, none graphic, but what their characters, their determination and their instincts for survival place upon them and the jobs they are able to perform. There’s a special lady that will surprise the reader when she’s spotlighted. 5*
Among Wolves #1 – This is my first read by this author and I liked the story. The well thought out story line follows a young boy through his discoveries about his grandfather’s Nazi SS past and the causes of his mother’s hatred. He’s able to make his own decisions about the right way of life for him, earning him his grandfather’s respect and costing him his mother’s love. The young man contributes to the war of hatred after learning a secret about his father. Along his journey, he is supported by many surprising people. The characters are interesting and believable, and their dialog realistic. The reader is drawn into the story and the author’s descriptions are clear and interesting. History is a rich character that adds depth and understanding to the story, which begins after WWII. I know a lot of this history and found the author did a great job with his historical presentation. Mr. Vezina did research his subject matter. This well written story could have been a five star if the author had only edited the story. Missing commas, lower case proper nouns and titles, inconsistencies and various other defects distracted the reader because there were so many. Many affected the meaning of the sentences. 4*
UPDATE: Among Wolves is updated and changed somewhat according to the author. The update hasn’t made it to Amazon as of 01/30/2019.
Education #2 – A cliffhanger that continues in book #3 Retribution. The story is set in 1979 and picks up with Will and Susan and their future together. Playing heavy parts in this story are many of the characters from Never Forget and Among Wolves. Fast paced and filled with a few twists for everyone. Needs better editing. 5*
Danger Close (Btwn #2 & #3) – A short story set in 1979. More on Will Kessler and his transition from his past to his future. His life changes with the murders of his mother and grandfather and the shooting of his girlfriend. He does a job that gets him a shock of a lifetime and changes his future. 5*
The Lion of Israel (Btwn #2 & #3) – This short story introduction is for Ariel Sutcliffe and her contributions to the JBU. Her story, her strengths and her weaknesses, along with some of her jobs and where she is heading. A good, but flawed character that is tested with a special job. This book I found on Booksprout. 5*