May 03, 2007 02:54 PM
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The “Odessa File” by Frederick Forsyth is based on the post second world war times. The book started with the gory realities of the Hitler’s rule and the hatred that the Germans nurtured for the Jews. The book makes an eye opening read as it describes the Concentration camps in details as we know so little about them. The writer takes pledge in doling out the miniscule details about the ODESSA(the army within the German army that later takes the onus of the safe keeping and disguising of the then soldiers responsible for the Jew Camps) and the SS group with Germany. It deals very little about what history taught us.
The book begins as an old Jew(survivor of the concentration camp at RIGA) gasses himself to death, demoralized by the only aim that was keeping him to life- Prosecution of the Butcher of Riga, Eduard Roschman. The second core revolves around Peter Miller, (the hero) a reporter who accidentally gets the diary of the old Jew and finds somethingthat ignites his blood to carry the search for the German *Kemarand!
The plot make the readers spell bound as the hunt for the Odessa Operators begin single handedly by the amateur reporter. Tickling the readers to the marrow, the book carries the readers until the last pages(making it slow at places) as the search takes shape by the reporter least aware that his life would be hanging in a loose thread as he messes with the most powerful Army Organization!
A nice plot, nice characterization, yet the book fail to satisfy the criteria for a nice ending. Having a typical ending, thoroughly demotivates the readers. May be this is what actually happened to the Odessa Rulers!
