Defending Britta Stein by Ronald H. Balson was a very powerful and captivating novel of historical fiction. I'm a big fan of Ronald H. Balson and this novel is another masterpiece. His ability to create heroes you identify with and truly awful villains is incredible. I highly recommend Defending Britta Stein for fans of legal dramas or historical fiction, I can’t recommend the Catherine Lockhart and Liam Taggert series highly enough.

This author over the last year has become one of my favorites without a doubt! I thoroughly enjoy the writing and style of writing. The way the words come together in this book are purely beautiful. Of all the books with these characters I could never pick a favorite. Please do yourself a favor and check out this author and books!!

I voluntarily reviewed a copy of this book provided by NetGalley. And also purchased a copy.

Defending Britta Stein is a rich historical novel with courtroom drama that weaves Britta’s life growing up in German occupied Denmark with defending her claims that a prominent Copenhagen figure is indeed a Nazi collaborator and traitor. One of the things I enjoyed the most about Balson’s latest endeavor was the historical detail and learning how the Danes strived to remain neutral in the war and opened their homes to hide and protect the Jewish population from deportation to German concentration camps.

Defending Britta Stein by Ronald H. Balson
Length: 352 Pages
Genres: Historical Fiction, Mystery
Rating: 3 out of 5 Stars

A special thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for an ARC of this book!

I unfortunately didn't realize that this was the sixth book in a series by Balson, featuring attorney Catherine Lockhart and her husband, Detective Liam Taggert, however I was able to understand it easily and I think it's a perfect example of a series that you don't have to read in order to enjoy!

Right away I was struck (not in a good way) by the writing style, which relied mostly on dialogue, with the little bit of description and action being entirely told to us, making the characters rather one dimensional and hard to connect with. The best part was all of Britta's memories of Denmark during WWII. A solid three star read for me.

I was glad to see that Ron Balson brought back attorney Catherine Lockhart and her spouse, investigator Liam Taggart. As with this author’s first couple of books, ‘Once We Were Brothers’ and ‘ Karolina’s Twins,’ we go back to the late 1930s and 1940s during WW2, this story centering around Denmark and the danish jews who lived there. From the very beginning, the reader is drawn into Britta’s life and if you’re like me, very interested in what happened to her all those years ago. While this is not one of my favorite stories by this author, I did enjoy it. Listening to the audiobook was different, I liked the voice for Emma but the voices for Liam and Catherine would not be what I would have chosen based on my opinion of the characters from past stories. #netgalley

https://wendyreadit.wordpress.com/2021/09/12/defending-britta-stein/

I have heard so many people say they are tired of WWII books, but you will want to read this one. This book tells the story of one family in one country - Denmark- and how they are impacted by the war. When an elderly Britta, now living in Chicago, finds out that one of her countrymen, whom she remembers as a Nazi collaborator, is about to be honored as a war hero, she cannot let that stand. The book becomes a legal thriller worthy of Scott Turow. I wanted to read this book in one seating. Highly recommend.

I learned a lot I didn't know in this book. There is a LOT of history of Denmark during WWII. Some of it is fascinating but at times it bogs the narrative down and is rather tedious. I'll admit I'm not as patient as Catherine. I constantly wanted Britta to hurry up!!!

The characters are realistic and sympathetic and the story is different from other WWII stories. It's a compelling book and well worth the read.

I received a free electronic ARC of this novel from Netgalley. Ronald H. Balson, and St. Martin's Press. I have read this novel of my own volition, and this review reflects my honest opinion of this work. I love everything I have ever read by Ronald H. Balson. I think I shed more tears over this one than I did over Saving Sophie. It is always a good idea to be waiting in line when his books are published. They are one's I keep close, to read again. This is the sixth in a series featuring Liam and Catherine but is completely stand-alone.

We have three wonderful women telling this story, a deeply nuanced tale of the steps we must go to to keep the past in balance in our hearts. Britta, now 92, a Chicago resident for many years, is a Jewish refugee from Denmark during WWII. Her grand-niece Emma lives close and tries to keep an eye on Britta, but she's a feisty one. Until the news of the Danish-American Association of Chicago's plans to honor 95-year-old Ole Henryks for his wartime rescues of Jewish families during the war. Britta knows Ole. Ole Hendricksen, as he was known in Denmark, was no hero. On the contrary, Britta recognizes him, even after all these years, as the man who was responsible for the deaths of her sister Grethe and her husband Lukas. Rather than saving the Danish Jews, he was responsible for selling them out to the Gestapo.

It's often hard to be heard when you are a 92-year-old woman. But Britta has worked out a way to draw attention to the facts in this case. And with the help of investigator Liam Taggart and attorney Catherine Lockhart, she will see justice done. If she can live long enough.

Another amazing book by Ronald H. Balson. As with all of his books, Balson manages to weave an incredible story with strong characters into a well researched part of history. Defending Britta Stein is no exception and this book will be with you way past the final page.

Catherine Lockhart and Liam Taggart are back, this time working with 92-year old Britta Stein. When Ole Henryks is to be honored for heroics again Nazi’s in Denmark, Britta spray-paints “coward,” “traiotor,” “collaborator,” and more on the walls of his restaurant. From there Britta finds herself in a lawsuit filed by Ole and his son - which is where Lockhart and Taggart’s help becomes necessary.

As always, Balson does an incredible job writing a story about wartime history, weaving it into a historical fiction story about individuals, their experiences and legal ramifications. You will find yourself emotionally invested in the characters, their personal life and their experiences. Balson is an incredible writer and yet again has written an amazing book!

Thank you to netgalley and St Martin’s Press for my advanced reader copy.

Will Britta Stein succeed? Time and health are not in her favor
This is a wonderful story told of determination and fighting against all odds to bring somebody accountable for their past actions during the War.
This book is a great find for anybody that likes historical fiction combined with legal procedures.
I did not read the prior books in the Liam Taggard & Catherine Lockhart series and did not feel I was missing something because it can easily be read as a standalone.

Defending Britta Stein by Ronald H. Balson is another Holocaust era tragedy played out in modern day. It was a pretty thorough history of the Nazi occupation of Denmark told through the memories of a 92-year-old woman whose family had been wrong by another Dane who had been a Nazi collaborator and caused the deaths of her sister and brother-in-law. What made the whole story quite wonderful was the reaction of the Danish population as a whole. There were only about 7,000 Jews in Denmark and they were wholly assimilated. When the time came, the population helped them escape the Nazis and when they returned they found the citizenry had care for their homes: guarded them and cleaned them. Such a different response from the way things happened in most of Europe. Balson is so knowledgeable and his books are always so readable and so good. This is no exception. It tells such a story. I recommend it.

Ole Henryks was 95 years old when the Danish American Society decided to honor him for his heroism during WW II. Britta hadn't even known he was in Chicago but this was more than she could take. Her response was to spray paint some words on the side of his restaurant. Six nights. She freely admitted it and paid the fine to the city for doing it. Now he's suing for defamation. The thing about defamation is that it doesn't exist if the words used were the truth. Lawyer Catherine Lockhart sets out to prove that her words were accurate. Britta tells her story, in detail, over the course of a couple of weeks. Catherine wishes she'd just get to the parts they needed, but Britta needed to tell the whole thing. In the middle of it, Liam Taggart, Lockhart's investigator husband, goes to Denmark to gather evidence. He has some, but not enough. Catherine gets Ole on the stand and he tells his side. It was explosive.

I was invited to read a free e-ARC of Defending Britta Stein by St Martin's Press through Netgalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own. #netgalley #stmartinspress #defendingbrittastein

Wow, what an incredible story! Mr. Balson once again brings his characters, attorney Catherine Lockhart and her husband, Liam Taggert into a complicated modern story that reaches far into the past. Britta Stein is a 90 year old woman who spray paints defamatory words on the building of Ole Hendryx, a 95 year old man who is about to be honored for heroic efforts during WWII in Denmark. Their family history and a trial ensue. What truly amazed me was learning the strength of the danish people in helping 95% of their Jewish population hide and then escape to safety in Sweden.

This is an intriguing story dealing with world war II. The German occupation of Denmark and the people who lived there. You'll enjoy hearing Britta's story.

This was the first book of Ronald H. Balson that I have read, but it won't be the last. His historical research is impeccable in its accuracy and attention to detail. Interweaving the experience of Danes during World War II, you thought you were there. While this was a work of fiction, he was able to convey the real-life trauma of those days. As a fan of Chicago's restaurants, he could not have painted a better picture.
You will not want to put this book down..
I understand that Mr. Balson is the winner of the National Jewish Book Award - and rightfully so. I look forward to reading more of his work.

Ronald H. Balson’s Defending Britta Stein is a wonderful new book. Balson reunites his readers with Chicago based attorney Catherine Lockhart and her husband detective Liam Taggart. Catherine is defending ninety-two-year-old Britta Stein, who grew up in Denmark during World War II. Caught on camera, Britta admits to spray painting the words liar, traitor, betrayer, and Nazi collaborator on the wall outside of Ole Henryks’s popular restaurant. Ole is ninety-five and claims he helped Danish Jews flee to Sweden aboard fishing boats to escape deportation and Nazi concentration camps. A prominently placed photo in his restaurant offers proof. Beloved by many Chicagoans, Ole is soon to be inducted into the hall of fame of the Danish-American Association of Chicago for his heroism during the war. Britta’s defense is that she’s not guilty of defaming Ole’s character because the words she wrote are true. Balson crafts a thrilling story of Britta’s past, her association with Ole, and the devastating impact he had on her family’s future.

(4.5/5)
This is Book 6 in the Liam Taggart & Catherine Lockhart series, and it was another one that I thoroughly enjoyed. The writing, as always, by Ronald Balson was exquisitely done and the story itself was captivating from the start. The historical side of this story takes place in Denmark during World War II, a part of the World War II history I was not very familiar with. Mr. Balson certainly did his research for this book, and I learned a great deal. Historical fiction fans will enjoy Defending Britta Stein and I highly recommend. It can be read as a stand-alone book but reading his earlier books in this series will give you more background information on the main characters, Liam and Catherine.

Thank you to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for the review copy.

“Coward”…..“Traitor”…..“Collaborator”…..“War Criminal” These words appear painted on the outside walls of a restaurant, The Melancholy Dane. The restaurant is owned by ninety-five-year-old Ole Hendryks (or is it Hendrickson) who is getting an award from the Chicago Dane Association for his work in saving Jews during WW II. Ninety-two-year-old Britta Stein is arrested for this crime. Britta is one of the Danish Jews who was saved in the boat lift. What possessed her to paint these words on the walls of a restaurant.

Ronald Balson has crafted a masterful story based on actual events about how Denmark saved their Jewish citizens by ordinary Danish citizens ferrying Jews in their own boats to Sweden rather than turning them over to Germany. Balson explains in his author notes that the events that happened in the book are true but the characters are fictional. Shortly after starting this book, I discovered that this book is the sixth in a series. Britta’s lawyer Catherine Lockhart and her husband, Liam Taggert who is a private investigator appear in earlier books.

Defending Britta Stein moves back and forth between Britta telling her story of the past to her granddaughter Emma (a young lawyer) and Catherine as they prepare for Britta’s trial in the present. Liam goes to Denmark to research Ole. I knew about these boat lifts from history books, and this book brought the history to life. I especially enjoyed the beginning chapters of the book and again thought the last 25-30% of the book were masterful when a lot of the past was told in Britta’s diary as she was in the hospital. I thought this was better than the earlier part when Britta was telling little bits of her story over days to Emma and Catherine. This middle part of the story was very dry and at times read like a history book. The final scenes in the courtroom were masterfully written. I found myself in tears several times while reading this book and cheering for the main characters. I have put the first five books on my TBR. This book would have been five stars for me if the middle part could have been written differently. My thanks to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for an ARC of this book. The opinions in this review are my own.

With Defending Britta Stein, Ronald H. Balson proves once again that he is a powerhouse of historical fiction. His hallmark skills of deep, complex characters, thorough research, interesting and informative story lines, and his ability to place the reader into the story are evident.

It's great to see the team of attorney Catherine Lockhart, and her husband, private investigator Liam Taggert in action again. This time they are defending Britta Stein, a 90 year old Danish woman who has admitted to defacing the property of Ole Hendryks. Hendryks, 95, is about to be honored by the Danish/American Association for his civic good works and as a war hero during WWII. Following Britta's actions he brings a lawsuit against her for defamation of character and infliction of emotional distress. With both parties being up in years, the race is on to bring the case to completion.

I had not previously read a book about Denmark during WWII, and I learned a lot. I will continue to read everything Balson writes, he's that good!! I highly recommend this book.

My thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for allowing me to read an ARC of this book which is scheduled to be published 9/7/21. All opinions expressed in this review are my own and are freely given.

Fans of the WWII genre will welcome this dual time line novel for insight into what happened in Denmark. Catherine Lockhart finds herself defending Britta Stein, who has defaced a restaurant owned by Ole Henryks who she maintains should no longer be allowed to hide his collaboration with the Nazis. She's 92 and she's got a story to tell, which she does, and Catherine's partner Liam vets it. The present day story, while well constructed, pales by comparison to the insight into Nazi era Denmark. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. It's a good read.

If you remember reading “Number the Stars” by Louis Lowry as a child, you will enjoy this grown up version of the book.
Ninety- two year old Britta Stein is arrested for spray painting “liar, collaborator, Nazi” on ninety- five year old Ole Hendryks’s bar. But why would she do that?
Ronald H. Balson takes us on a journey from WWII to present day to find out out why. Balson weaved history within the story. Did you know that the Danish people protected their Jewish neighbors? But not everyone was to be trusted.
This is the sixth book in the Liam Taggart & Catherine Lockhart series. Liam is a private detective and Catherine is an attorney. They are married and also work together. This book can be read as a stand alone, but I think it’s best to read the books in order.
I would like to thank Ronald H. Balson, St. Martin’s Press and and Netgalley for a complimentary copy of the book. The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.