The End of Law by Therese Down (Book Review!)

The End Law

(A Novel of Hitler’s Germany)

By Therese Down

(received in exchange for an honest review)

 

Genre- Fiction

Published by- Lion Hudson

Copyrighted- 2016

Number of pages- 320

Age Group- Adult

Description of book- paperback, listed price- $14.99, ISBN 978-1-78264-190-2

This book is a novel about the beginning of World War II and Hitler’s rise to power.  SS Officer Walter Gunther and SS Officer Karl Muller are involved in the T4 euthanasia programme.  This program has been developed to kill those who are considered “unworthy.”  Those people are Jews, crippled children, the mentally ill, and homosexuals.

Their families don’t know what they are doing.  Officer Muller decides to be brave and share what he knows about the program.  Who will he share his burden with?  Will it be Officer Gunther’s wife?  

About the Author-

Therese Down is a teacher of the English language and literature.  She lives in Worcestershire.  Her other novel is Only With Blood: A Novel of Ireland.

My thoughts-

I thought this book was interesting.  I had never read much about this aspect of World War II.  I’m not even sure if I knoew about the T4 euthenasia program.  I knew that the Jews were killed, but I’m not sure I knew about the other groups.

Sometimes it was a hard book to read, because of all the detail about what the Third Reich was doing to the crippled children and mentally ill.  Therese Down painted such a strong vision for me.

One of the best parts of the book was the historical section at the end, because I was able to learn true story.  I do wish that this section had been at the beginning of the book, so I would have known more about what the novel was about.

If you like reading about World War II, this book is for you.  I do recommend it to everyone.  I think you will like it.

Disclosure of Material Connection- I received The End of Law, by Therese Down+, for free from the Kregel Publications’ Blog Tour.  All links were current when posted.  I was not required to write a positive review.  The opinions I have expressed are my own or those of my family.  I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.

Only with Blood by Therese Down (Book Review)

Only with Blood

By Therese Down

(received in exchange for an honest review)

Genre- Fiction / Christian / Historical

Published by- Lion Fiction

Copyrighted- 2015

Number of pages- 313

Age Group- Adult 

Description of book- paperback, listed price- $14.99, ISBN 978-1-78264-135-3

Jack Flynn.  Caitlin Spillane.  Donal Kelly.

Their lives are about to connect in Only with Blood, by Therese Down.

Jack Flynn lives in Tipperary in the new Republic of Ireland.  He is a farmer, who is dying of tuberculosis, and he wants a wife who can give him a son.

Caitlin Spillane is a high school student who is going to be forced by her father to marry Jack.  She will do it, but at what cost to her?

Donal Kelly is an IRA activist, who has fallen in love with Caitlin.  He wants to save her from her circumstances.

What will happen in their lives?  How many people will be affected by their actions?

Read an excerpt.

About the Author-

Therese Down currently works as the Head of English in a High School in England.  She currently lives in Worcestershire and has been teaching English Literature and Language for over 20 years.

My thoughts-

Only with Blood was an interesting read. 

I liked learning more about Ireland in the 1940's, when there was a lot of political turmoil.  The historical aspect was interesting, but I was captivated with the people, Jack Flynn, Caitlin and her family, and the outsider, Donal Kelly. 

Jack and Caitlin get married, but their age difference is so great (Caitlin is still at the local school) that they really don't have a marriage.  They are able to have a working relationship, which is important, because Jack is dying of tuberculosis.  I am sure the relationship would have been different if he had not been so sick.  I don't think that Donal helped their relationship or a chance of a relationship, because he wanted Caitlin.

Therese Down did a good job of evenly adding the political turmoil and Jack and Caitlin's relationship.  When I was reading a chapter about politics, I wanted to learn more about Caitlin and Jack, and vice versa.

I was surprised by the ending.  I can't tell you what it was, but Jack became my favorite character, even though he purchased Caitlin from her father.  I recommend this book to those who like history and family.

Disclosure of Material Connection- I received Only with Blood, by Therese Down, for free from the Kregel Publications’ Blog Tour.  All links were current when posted.  I was not required to write a positive review.  The opinions I have expressed are my own or those of my family.  I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.