The year is 1996 and Stefan Kosar and his children, Thomas and Julia, are at the Sea of Mary Memorial Gardens, Southwest Manhattan Island in New York. They are saying goodbye to Ana, a wife and mother who brings with her a family secret that dates back to the turbulent years of the Second World War in Slovakia. William Jarvis's novel "The Partisan" is the story of the Kosars, a family of Slovak industrialists and nationalists. The young Stefan was a student in Geneva when the Nazis were ruthlessly subjugating most of Europe. Life will never be the same again for the whole family when their father Tomas, a member of the Slovak delegation negotiating with Germany and Britain at the outbreak of the Second World War, was imprisoned for treason by his own people. Estefan, Patrik and Matilda are left to continue their father's business and moral legacy. This is their story.

This novel brings me back to a time when most people in East Europe lived in fear and where brutality was a common occurrence. It is amazing how William Jarvis is able to make his characters real and alive. The narrative is character and dialogue-driven with a pace that will keep the reader glued to his reading corner. "The Partisan" is a historical fiction that will send chills through your spine because the conflict and the terror are told in such a way that they become palpable. This is because of the excellent descriptive style of the author. Although the setting of the story changes from Slovakia to the United States of America, it does not affect its fluidity and coherence; in fact, it enhances them. I have read a lot of novels about war-torn Europe and I am not new to the brutality of that era but this story stands out because of the author's excellent writing style and creativity.

“The Partisan” by William Jarvis is extremely well-written. I felt as if I was a part of the conflict and felt all of the horrible pain of the Kosar family as they fought for what they believed against all odds of winning. The story starts in the present time at a cemetery in America and takes us back to Nazi-occupied Slovakia. Stefan Kosar feels it is time to tell his children the real story of their ancestors. He shares with them his childhood home and the carefree life he and his brother and sister shared. It was a short-lived happiness because very quickly his father was removed forcefully from their home and imprisoned. His sister was raped by the arresting soldiers and his younger brother beaten badly. Stefan had to make many sacrifices that included leaving the University and his fiancé behind to return home and run the family business. He would try in vain to protect his brother, sister and all they held dear.

“The Partisan” brings us vividly back to a time in history when the Nazi army and their brutality were allowed. William Jarvis has written a book with characters that are very real and the plot is perfectly believable. This is an epic story of a family fighting the injustices of war-torn Eastern Europe. The reign of terror inflicted by the Nazi soldiers and how they thought and believed that it was right and fair treatment is also portrayed. I cried, laughed and felt pain and joy from page one to the very last word. For all lovers of historical fiction this is a must read. I can only hope that Jarvis continues the saga and shares with us what happens to the Kosar’s in America.

Excellent book. Highly recommended. I've read it in paperback and on my NOOK. Hope author writes more. Interesting historial links, great strong women characters, sociopathic villian, and unusual setting. Loved reading about the time period. Great book!!!