Synopsis (from Netgalley, the provider of the book for me to review.)
*********************************************************
Inspired by actual events, Naomi Ragen's The Enemy Beside Me is a powerful, provocative novel about two people fighting for reconciliation over unforgivable crimes of the past.
Taking over from her father and grandfather as the head of the Survivor’s Campaign, an organization whose purpose is to bring Nazi war criminals to justice, Milia Gottstein has dedicated her life to ensuring the voices of Holocaust victims will never be silenced. It is an overwhelming and heartbreaking mission that has often usurped her time and energy being a wife to busy surgeon Julius, and a mother and grandmother. But now, just as she is finally ready to pass on her work to others, making time for her personal life, an unexpected phone call suddenly explodes all she thought she knew about her present and her future.
n the midst of this personal turmoil, Milia receives an invitation to be the keynote speaker at a Holocaust conference in Lithuania from Dr. Darius Vidas, the free-spirited, rebellious conference head. Despite suspecting his motives―she is, after all, viewed as a ‘public enemy’ in that country for her efforts to have them try war criminals and admit their historic responsibility for annihilating almost their entire Jewish community, including her own family―she nevertheless accepts, having developed a secret agenda of her own.
But as Milia and Darius begin their mission, shared experiences profoundly alter their relationship, replacing antagonism and suspicion with a growing intimacy. However, this only ramps up the hostile forces facing them, threatening their families, livelihoods, and reputations, and forcing them into shocking choices that will betray all they have achieved and all that has grown between them.

Due, perhaps, to a rapidly changing demographic in our city and allocation of funds towards that, there is only ONE Naomi Ragen book left in our system An Unorthodox Match which I argue about all the time that there should be MORE Jewish literature - especially the sequel to that book An Observant Wife-- both are 5-star reads. (I have been known to lend out my own copies of her books and send people to bookstores for her works - especially book clubs) This is another one that I will push to get onto our shelves but as it is historical fiction (based on true events) I may not have a problem getting it purchased as those books seem to automatically be approved.

Now - onto the actual review.
************************
This is an excellent piece of fact-based fiction that kept me enthralled from page one to end. The story was expertly crafted and the characters were wonderful to spend time with - they were the non-violent version of The Hunters (Amazon Prime Video) which we have binge-watched more than once from stem to stern. An absolutely wonderful book that you should pick up in addition to the two mentioned above. I also highly recommend The Sacrifice of Tamar if you are looking for another excellent book to read.
Highly recommended - 5 out of 5 stars.
#shortbutsweetreviews