A tremendous feat of storytelling, propelled by numerous twists and revelations yet anchored by a deep moral seriousness, this work is both enthralling and original. It blends elements of a detective story, family history, and a probing inquiry into how to reckon with the horrors of the past. The narrative begins with Linda Kinstler's discovery of a former Nazi, connected to her grandfather, who is under investigation in Latvia, risking a pardon for his crimes. This situation threatens the hard-won facts about the Holocaust as the last living survivors are dying. As cases from World War II continue to emerge in courts worldwide, the need for proof remains critical. The book raises important questions about the responsibilities of transmitting these stories across generations and the ghosts that must be confronted to close the historical crime scene. Kinstler delves into her family’s history and the archives of ten nations to explore what it takes to prove history in an uncertain era. This profound work addresses the nature of memory and justice amid revisionism and denialism, urging a continued commitment to recounting the history of the twentieth century. It highlights the precariousness of truth and the necessity of storytelling in the present day.
