I really enjoy the books in the Liam Taggert and Catherine Lockhart series. And like the author’s first book, Once We Were Brothers (which I strongly encourage you to read!), the story takes place in Chicago with a background story during WWII. Britta Stein was a tough cookie and her determination to see the truth be revealed was admirable. Catherine and Liam make a great team as they work and struggle to slowly extract the history from Britta ... and then figure out how to make the truth show itself buried in all the lies. A great addition to this series and I look forward to another adventure with Catherine and Liam.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Griffin for my advanced review copy. All opinions and thoughts are my own.

For more reviews, please visit my blog at: https://www.msladybugsbookreviews.com/. Over 1000 reviews posted!

Another winner from local (to me) author Ronald Balson. Loved that this dealt with the Jews and the resistance in Denmark. I visited Denmark and learned a lot about war through our excellent tour guide.

Balson, a lawyer by trade, made the legalities and courtroom scenes easily understandable to the layman reader. I was hooked from the start til the very end. This one is up there with my favorites of his.

Well written book and I learned so much about Denmark’s role in World War II. I liked reading the story of Brita’s life when she lived in Denmark and also the ramifications of that experience on the rest of her life. So few WW II books cover the post-war aspects. I also liked reading about the legal aspects of her case that were presented. I found Brita’s character likable and I aspire to be like her when I am her age!
This is not your typical WWII book since much of it is in modern times, but if you like historical fiction, legal/courtroom drama and like to learn about other countries and cultures, you will enjoy this book.
Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for providing this book in exchange for a review.

Attorney Catherine Lockhart, an attorney, and her husband, Liam Taggert, a private investigator are the protagonists in this story that showcases the unity and bravery of the Danish people in saving most of their population of Jews during World War II.
Set in Chicago, the book centers on restaurateur Ole Henryks, who owns The Melancholy Dane, a popular eating spot on the North Side of Chicago. The Danish community is honoring him for his self-professed bravery and heroism during World War II when he claims to have ferried the Jews to Sweden and to safety.
But after someone spray-paints defamatory words on the walls of his restaurant, he installs a video camera and catches Britta Stein, a tiny 92-year-old woman, in the act. She is arrested, and he decides to sue her for defamation to restore his good name.
But Britta claims that what she wrote is all true, which is a defense to the defamation accusation. Her granddaughter Emma, hires Catherine who meets with Britta and agrees to take the case.
Britta tells her story, along with all of the Danish history and background, which is really interesting. While Catherine is hearing the story, Liam goes to Denmark to see if he can confirm Britta’s version of events in time for the trial, which, due to their ages, is being rushed through the courts.
This is a wonderful historical novel that gives readers a look at a part of World War II that they might not know about.

Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for the opportunity to read this amazing book. I love Catherine Lockhart and Liam Taggart! They are a fabulous team. Defending Britta Stein is a story that will stay with you long after you finish. The bravery and brotherly love of the Danes during World War Two is incredible. We need to learn from them. Britta Stein is a formidable woman looking to expose a lie. She is a heroine you won't forget.

An excellent history of the Germany/Denmark relationship during World War II. The story keeps you turning the pages and wanting to find out what happens next. The racial and religious tolerance of the Danish people is a model the rest of the world would do well to emulate. Thank You #NetGalley for allowing me to give my voluntary and honest opinion of #DefendingBrittaStein

Ole Henryks, has created a wonderful, prosperous life for himself in America. He owns a hugely successful restaurant and his family is very well liked in the community.. So much so that the Danish/American association is going to honor him for his generosity towards the community. He is also known about his time in Denmark during WWII and his acts of courage.. He seems to have the love and respect of all.. Except for one woman.. She knows that what he says is false. she knows that actually he is lying about his time in Denmark.. Britta Stein though is 90 years old and what can she do with this information. So she does what she can and goes out front of his restaurant and in front of everyone, calls him out on his lies. She doesn’t mince words. Words like Coward, Collaborator and Traitor. He is appalled by this and sets out to sue Britta for defamation. How could this woman say these things? How could she be so terrible? Does he even know her? How could she know him? It is clear once the lawsuit is filed Britta will need help defending herself? She need help with the law and how it works.. She is lucky Catherine Lockhart takes the case and is willing to believe in her. She is also willing to get her investigator husband, Liam Taggert involved so that they can clear Britta. Liam has to go to great lengths, to help Britta. Can he get all the info he needs? Can he head to Denmark & find people who know the situation and side with Britta. Will this have to go to court? Will there be a huge court battle? The author Ronald H Balson tells such a great story of WWII in a unique way. His characters are excellent and I loved how he went back in forth in time.. to give the meh reader, the whole picture. This was a 4.5 star read for me. Defending Britta Stein is very well written story and I hope you enjoy it as much as I did!!

Defending Britta Stein was a great read. It is one of those books that keep readers up late at night reading to find out how it all ends. Five stars.

I don’t even know where to start my review for this book. As a huge fan of Ronald Balson since his first book, ONCE WE WERE BROTHER, and with all his subsequent books, I have been waiting for a book to affect me in the same way. While I enjoyed all his other books, none of them had the same affect on me as Once We Were Brothers… until DEFENDING BRITTA STEIN!

Formatted similarly to Once We Were Brothers, the book follows Britta Stein as she shares her WWII story with Catharine and Liam in an effort to clear her name in a defamation lawsuit. Stein’s story takes place in Denmark and shares a really unique view on WWII and the Holocaust. Learning about how the Danish people protected their Jewish neighbours was heroic and moving. And Britta’s story was equally as captivating as Ben Solomon’s story (from Once We Were Brothers).

I found myself guessing about the ending right until the last couple of pages!!! I was completely engrossed in this story and loved every minute of it. To all fans of historical fiction, WWII fiction, etc – Ronald Balson books are a MUST read, and DEFENDING BRITTA STEIN is no different!

The second I finished reading the book, I checked the release date for the audiobook, because I know this will be a book that I will have to listen to as well!

A classic Ron Balson story of historical fiction. I enjoyed reading this story and it held my interest from the first page onward. I liked the setup with the daughter as the primary recipient of Britta’s story. I have not read any books with Denmark as a primary location either before or after WWII so I found that part of the story especially new and interesting. It brought Denmark to life, at least during the described historical period. Ron made the legal details accessible and substantive without being boring. I especially liked learning a bit about how litigators think about the details of their case. Can't wait for Ron's next one!

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an early release of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review.

A Danish restauranteur, Ole Hendryks, is about to be honored by a local association for his civic activities and record as a Danish hero in WWII, rescuing Jews, when a 90-year old woman is arrested for spray-painting epithets on the walls of his restaurant: traitor, liar, Nazi collaborator. and charitable contributions. Frequently appearing on local TV, he is well known for his actions in Nazi-occupied Denmark during World War II—most consider him a hero. A showboating lawyer files a $5 million defamation lawsuit, and Britta Stein welcomes the lawsuit and court fight. One of Catherine Lockhart's former law mentors asks her to help, as Britta is the grandmother of one of his rising attorneys. Reminiscent of Karolina's Twins, Britta tells a very long story of how the Danes kept their national identity during the Nazi occupation, with the majority opposing the occupation, working together to undermine the Germans, and to rescue their Jewish citizens. Her father was in Parliament, and her sister and brother-in-law active in the resistance. Excellent investigative support by Liam (again) and a well-executed legal strategy, especially in light of Britta's failing health as the trial commences. Another gem by Balson, and especially strong pictorial of the righteous Danes in a dark part of history.

I received this as an ARC from NetGalley.

This is another excellent book by Ronald Balson. It features attorney Catherine Lockhart and her investigator husband, Liam Taggart.

The story provides insight into life in Denmark during WWII. This is the only country in Europe that managed to save most of its Jewish population from extermination.

In this work of historical fiction, 90 year old Britta Stein will do anything she can to ensure that restauranteur Ole Henryks is not honored as a war hero. She knows that he was a Nazi supporter. The trial revolves about her first-person account of war-time events.

This is the 6th in Ronald H. Balson's legal thriller series starring passionate attorney Catherine Lockhart and her protective investigator husband, Liam Taggart.

As before, the author examines what ripples down through the years as consequences of the horrors of the Holocaust.

In 2018 Chicago, 95 year old restauranteur Ole Henryks is lauded as a hero in Nazi-occupied Denmark during WW II. But elderly Britta Stein remembers it quite differently and spray paints the walls of his restaurant.

As we expect Catherine defends her in court and wins the case. What makes this such an exceptional read though, are its fascinating insights into life in Denmark during WW II.

During the middle of the night 92-year-old Britta Stein spray paints Nazi, traitor and a couple other things on the side of a local bar, The Melancholy Dane. The owner is 95-year-old Ole Henryks who subsequently sues for defamation of character. He is about to be honored by the Danish-American Association in Chicago as a war hero for helping the Jews out of Denmark but Britta thinks differently.

Britta is an amazing character. For her age she is full of life. She is heroic then and also now as she stands up for what she believes is right and fights for the truth to come out. She is assisted in her fight by her granddaughter, Emma, who is also a lawyer and becomes co-counsel with Catherine Lockhart.

I did not realize that this was part of a series. It did not take away any enjoyment I had for the story itself but probably reading the previous books would help me understand the characters of Catherine and Liam more. Emma as a character was not well defined and hopefully she will make appearances in future books in the series.

I would like to thank Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for providing me with a copy of this inspirational story.

I read Defending Britta Stein as it was a selection for the Brenda Novak book club for September 2021. I was engrossed in the story from start to finish. This historical fiction novel has us hearing from Britta Stein, a 92-year-old Jewish woman from Denmark (now living in Chicago) who is being sued for defamation after spray-painting words like coward, traitor, liar, betrayer, and Nazi collaborator on the side of a bar. The Danish-American society is honoring 95-year-old Ole Henryks as a war hero for his efforts rescuing Jews in Denmark during WWII. But Britta is convinced Ole is someone she remembers from Denmark and he is the furthest thing from a hero.

In spite of her age, Britta is sharp and her memory is intact. She entrusts Catherine Lockhart with her defense: the truth is an absolute defense to defamation. Britta also has another motivation: she wants to pass her story along to Emma, her granddaughter, who is also an attorney and is helping Catherine with the case. Catherine's husband, Liam Taggart, is a private investigator and heads to Denmark to try to find some information to corroborate Britta's claims.

I really liked Britta. She was feisty and determined and I loved hearing her story. The only thing that kept me from rating this one 5 stars is the fact that it seems really unbelievable that a 92-year-old woman would be able to describe full conversations and events from over 70 years ago with excruciating detail. I thought maybe she had written it down many years ago, but it didn't really touch on how she would remember all of that. Suspending that disbelief, I thoroughly enjoyed hearing Britta's story and following along with the court proceedings.

Are you looking for an intriguing legal thriller mixed with a historical fiction novel? Look no further than Defending Britta Stein by Ronald H. Balson. I read Defending Britta Stein at the end of September for the Brenda Novak Book Group. Author Brenda Novak had a great interview with author Ronald H. Balson that can still be found on her Facebook page.

Ole Henryks is a popular restaurant owner in Chicago is being honored for being a Danish war hero. This does not sit well with ninety-two-year-old Britta Stein who starts a one-woman campaign to discredit Ole by graffitiing his restaurant. After charges are pressed against Britta, can her legal team defend her by showing it’s not defamation, but true statements about Ole Henryks? Britta narrates her past to her legal team and granddaughter and long buried secrets are unearthed. Was Ole Henryks a Nazi collaborator? How did his life intersect Britta’s life?

I found out when I started reading this novel that it is part of a series. It stood up well as a stand alone novel, although I am intrigued about the series now. I had no idea about the Danish history during World War II and I loved learning about it. It was particularly wonderful to read about how an entire country was able to pull together for the greater good and help people out to save almost their entire Jewish population. I am amazed I had never learned about this before. This would make a wonderful movie. I loved Britta’s story, but I’m not sure why she waited until this very late stage of her life to share it with her granddaughter.

Overall, Defending Britta Stein is an engaging legal thriller and historical fiction novel that is not to be missed!

Book Source: Review copy from Netgalley. Thank-you!

I want to touch briefly on the content of this book-that being wartime nazi Germany and the remarkable acts of heroism taken by Denmark to protect the Jewish people from being sent to concentration camps. It is also about a 92 year old woman seeking retribution against a man of the same age who she believes was a nazi collaborator at that time and who is presently being lauded by a Danish American association for his civic involvement and charity. I truly believe any Jewish person who lived during those terrible times could be Britta Stein but not many of them would have the chutzpah to do what she did and then face a lawsuit for her actions.
More than the plot is how I felt about this book. I could picture Mrs. Stein as a very petite, impeccably dressed, very well spoken lady. As she and her granddaughter prepared for her trial with her lawyer I felt as though I was present-listening to every word spoken-actually part of the story. It was evident that Mrs. Stein wanted to convey her story her own way instead of just giving details of the evidence to her lawyer-that she wanted her granddaughter to know the story of her life-rather like a memoir.
I loved the story, the way it was written and the fact that I felt involved in the telling. I was reluctant to finish it.
My thanks to St. Martin’s Press and Net Galley and to Ronald Balson for his telling of a very meaningful story.

Defending Britta Stein, by Ronald H. Balson, is another example of this author's ability to use the American legal system to tell riveting stories of the Holocaust. He brilliantly uses civil and procedural law to frame these stories of horror, deprivation, heroism and redemption. This novel continues his streak with the 92-year-old protagonist charged with defamation related to events in Denmark during the German Occupation. Denmark remarkably mobilized to save many of its admittedly small population of Jews.

This is a story worth knowing and seeing it through the eyes of one young woman is inspiring. I did feel that the pacing slowed to plodding speed at several points and way after the conclusion was obvious. Nonetheless, I highly recommend this book and all of the others Balson wrote. Preserving the stories of everyday people, even when truthfully imagined, is perhaps the best and most effective way to teach history. Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the opportunity to read a digital ARC. It was a pleasure.

I have read all of Ronald Balson's book. This follows a similar storyline but the idea for the story is different from his other books. I enjoyed reading this as I have enjoyed all of his other books. It is well written and easy to follow. This book was more about the character, Britta, and her granddaughter than about the lawyer defending her. You really got to know Britta and her story. I didn't know anything about the Jews in Denmark during WWII so I found this very informative and interesting. Definitely a book worth reading.

Defending Brita Stein is book 6 in its series. It was the first one I had read and I absolutely loved the story writing. The transitions between past and present day were well done and I found myself holding my breath to see how things with tie together. I fell in love with young Brita’s character, she was a badass!