The Singer Behind the Wire
Shari J. Ryan
Auschwitz, 1943. Ella tries to ignore the coughs and crying, the whispered prayers. Her eyelids grow heavier, but then a melody floats through the block as if on a breeze. Her lips open on a gasp, joy making her heart sing even as it shatters. She would know that voice anywhere…
Sitting bolt upright, Ella rubs at her eyes and concentrates on the music. Is she dreaming? She’d fallen for Luka’s voice the first time she heard him singing on the street corner near her house, with his kind smile and joyous laugh. He was her first love, and the pain of being torn apart still slices at her.
He’s alive. But even as hope swells in Ella’s heart, terror threatens to swallow it. Luka is Jewish. If he’s here, he’s in grave danger—even more than Ella faces for sneaking into the ghetto to see him back in Warsaw… But she will never regret it. They had fought every day for their love, even knowing where it might lead…
Despair tears at Ella as she battles to find the strength to keep going, to search for Luka even on the days when the bitter cold whips through the camp—the days when her body feels weaker than ever and her friends are lost to the cruel regime. At night, she listens desperately for the sound of Luka’s voice as he’s forced to perform. Knowing he’s still alive even if she can’t see him is the one thing that brings her peace.
Until one night when, as his first haunting notes reach her bunk, an angry shout splits the night sky, the music stops, and there is only resounding, terrifying silence…
A beautiful, heartbreaking yet hopeful story that will restore your faith in humanity and in the power of love to triumph over evil. Fans of The Tattooist of Auschwitz, The Nightingale and The Choice will be blown away by this gripping page-turner.
Readers are loving The Singer Behind the Wire:
“I don’t think I ever will get over this book… I want to wrap it in plastic and keep it on a special shelf, for special books… Beyond words fantastic. Can you give medals for books?… Well, Shari needs one… This story will stay with me.” Goodreads reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
“This. Broke. Me… Unforgettable… Moving and powerful… Will definitely be hard to forget. You’ll need tissues. I sobbed.” annasbook.nook, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
“I loved this… I was totally captivated… I went through so many emotions it was like I was on a rollercoaster… If I could give this more than 5 stars I would!” Goodreads reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
“I am emotionally wrung out… Wonderful and inspirational… Emotion oozing from every page… Will stay with me for a long time.” NetGalley reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
“This book wrecked me… The tension. The heartbreak. The history. Absolutely stunning.” NetGalley reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
“Such a heartbreaking read that I just couldn’t put down, I was so invested… One of the best I have read this year.” NetGalley reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
“Heart-wrenching… I was completely absorbed… Truly, a must-read… Devastating and hopeful in equal measure… Unforgettable.” Goodreads reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐
“Absolutely gutted me… I found myself holding my breath through the last few chapters… Just really powerful.” Goodreads reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
“One of the best WW2 novels I have read… Very emotional… Inspirational… I cannot recommend this highly enough.” Christiannovelreview, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
“Unforgettable, heart-wrenching… Will leave you grabbing for tissues and feeling heartbreak with every word.” Romancebookexplosion, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
“Phenomenal… My heart melted and ached… Oh, what a powerful novel!… Knocked me off my feet completely.” Goodreads reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
