I requested an electronic review copy of Blood Sacrifice because it caught my attention in not-always-comfortable ways. Caught my attention: an historical mystery set in occupied Poland and parts of the Warsaw Ghetto. Made me uncomfortable: an historical mystery set in occupied Poland and parts of the Warsaw Ghetto. When is such writing an act of respect? When is it an act of exploitation? The title plays off an antisemitic trope. But, the author has done his research and is trying to bring to life a moment in history that many have heard of, but that few know about in any detail: the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising.

Our detective in this case is Jan Kalisz, a non-Jewish pole who is active in the resistance, has connections in the Warsaw Ghetto, and is working as a police investigator for the occupying Nazi forces. His life is a juggling act that requires a faith in others that seems as if it would be impossible under the circumstances. Kalisz has mixed relationships with those in the German forces he works with. Some—like Salisz' supervising partner in the investigation the book focuses on—diligently investigate specific crimes with care, but still manage to avoid acknowledging ongoing Nazi genocide. Others hate Kalisz simply because he is Polish and are looking for any way to undercut him. His "handler" in the Polish resistance changes over time, but always presents him/herself by the same name. Kalisz doesn't know this person's identity, but still has to follow orders without question.

Douglas Jackson works to make those living in the Warsaw Ghetto into palpable, driven characters. Most acknowledge that they expect to die—and, based on that expectation, determine to take out as many Nazis as they can before their own end arrives. Kalisz faces constant pressure to provide more weapons to the Ghetto resistance, connecting with "high-end mobsters," those living rich lives that depend upon unscrupulous business dealings.

The mystery into the killing of a Nazi officer is less important to the plot than the day-to-day decisions Kalisz makes. The real mysteries are will he survive? and how successful will the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising be? If this approach to one of recent history's ugliest chapters interests you, I think you'll find Blood Sacrifice solid reading that creates fictional characters while relating real-world truths.

I received a free electronic review copy of this title from the publisher via NetGally; the opinions are my own.

Warsaw 1943. Nazi Germany has occupied the city, terrible things are happening to the Jewish population in a scenario where they are being robbed, starved and sent to the camps. Dark and desperate times. Kalisz is a Polish cop working with the Germans. Very few people know he is actually working secretly for the Polish resistance, but is in a position where the Nazis don’t fully trust him and the majority of Poles think he is a traitor. He’s working against the Nazis but constantly on the cusp of being discovered or killed as a traitor. Investigating the death of a German officer with multiple identities he has to contend with a serial killer and helping get arms into a defiant and starving population. Author Douglas Jackson nails this. Great for fans of Philip Kerr but this is no idle copy of that great series. Here the horrors of what happened in Warsaw are blended with the oppression of those caught in the middle of it all. Douglas Jackson is already an established and talented author and this is his second novel set in wartime Warsaw, and we are lucky enough to have two more books to come.

The second Jan Kalisz Warsaw based WW11 detective tale doesn’t hold back on graphic details. The death of a high ranking Nazi official is at first an apparent suicide but Kalisz quickly sees it as a murder and his investigation takes in the horrors of the ghetto and its destruction around the uprising. A really absorbing read full of emotion interesting characters the next episode cannot come soon enough for me.

Blood Sacrifice by Douglas Jackson. I so desperately wanted this to be for me but I couldn’t enjoy it. Warsaw in 1943 is obviously a pretty grim place and Jan is a double agent having a bad time. I just think I’m not wired up for crime thrillers, too much crime and too much police work. Give me some history and some people. It’s graphic in some parts and it’s important the stories are told and everyone will love it but me. I just couldn’t get into it

A new investigation for Jan Kalisz of the Warsaw Kripo

Investigator Jan Kalisz is a detective with the Warsaw Krupp. He continues his investigative life under deep cover, as a Nazi collaborator, whilst really an agent for the Armia Krajowa, the Home Army, Poland’s major resistance force. He has to be careful yet daring.
The tale centers around the final days of the Ghetto of Warsaw. The end is coming. The last Jews in the Ghetto are being rounded up and sent to places like Treblinka.
Kalisz has been investigating the murder of Axel Weiss, an accountant, the golden boy of the Gestapo. Weiss had been looking into Nazis who were feathering their own nest. The puzzling thing is Weiss has three identities.
Following that up puts Kalisz at odds with Kriminalassistent Hofle who before the war was a detective from Munich. Now he’s with the Krupp, when not moonlighting as an enforcer with the soldiers rounding up the Jewish residents of Warsaw and the Ghetto.
This story has us wandering around Warsaw, crawling down holes and through sewers as Kalisz’s investigation continues even as he is near to unraveling. Stark and hard hitting.
So many heroic people, so many deaths.

A Canelo ARC via NetGalley.
Many thanks to the author and publisher.
(Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.)

This was a cracking read. Such a dark period in history but written about in such a novel way. I learned about the Warsaw ghetto and hadn't really heard of this before. The danger and horror - you think you know about the Second World War but then books like thiscome along and you wonder, I found ti very interesting to learn about this period in this way and it was all so well done and cleverly put together. Respectfully too. A great read!

This is the second book in Jackson’s excellent World War 2 series.
I gave it the following SCORE:
Setting: 1943, Warsaw, Poland
Characters: Jan Kalisz, expert Kripo Investigator and other investigators of mixed competence and allegiances of the Warsaw police force, Kalisz family, the Polish resistance, and the cast of Nazi invaders
Overview: Kalisz is perpetually walking the tightrope between investigating crime for the Polish Police, maintaining distance from the harsh Nazi occupation, and working undercover for the Polish Resistance. The story in complex, with alternating plot lines of helping to supply guns to the resistance, solving the murder of a man with multiple identities, and attempting the nearly impossible task of tracking a man kidnapping children in the Jewish ghetto.
Recommendation: I rate this book 4 stars
Extras: This is not a book for everyone since the scenes of the occupation and the horrific conditions in the Jewish Ghetto are vividly described. This builds considerable suspense to the plot, particularly in the final chapters of the story. Although not necessary to have read the first book in the series, it would be helpful – plus, it is also an excellent story.
Thanx to NetGalley and Canelo for the opportunity to provide this candid review.

A follow up book to “Blood Sacrifice”which I have also read. This one carries on with the story of Jan Kalisz, Warsaw detective and secret member of the resistance.
In this novel, Kalisz is investigating the murder of a SS black marketeer who has several identities, one of them leading Kalisz into the Warsaw Ghetto where he is able to help his friend Isaac with more arms for the Jewish resistance.
As if the ghetto dwellers don’t have enough to worry about there is a serial killer stalking young orphans and Kalisz is asked to find him by one of the resistance fighters.
The author describes the atmosphere of wartime Warsaw very well, the fear and violence is very pronounced and makes for a thrilling and edge of your seat read.
The irony of investigating murders in a society dedicated to murder of innocents is not lost on the reader.
The book is cleverly plotted and compelling to read leaving me wanting more which is always a good sign. Definitely a five star read.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for my advance copy.

This series just keeps getting better.

"Blood Sacrifice", the second book in the Warsaw Quartet, opens in early 1943, some three years after the events of "Blood Roses". Life for Jan Kalisz, Kripo investigator and secret Resistance agent hasn't got any easier, as the Nazi occupation of Poland continues. His double life, and his unwillingness to share his secret with his family or colleagues, is causing ill-feeling. When the body of a Gestapo officer is found, apparently the victim of a suicide, Kalisz is assigned the case, which suddenly becomes much more complex, when he discovers the man had three identities.

And so Kalisz and his partner are thrust into a situation where they are surrounded by enemies. And his work becomes even more complicated when children start disappearing, and the hunt for the culprit draws them deeper into the Warsaw ghetto, where a mysterious figure known as the Golem stalks the streets.

In fact much of the story centres on the Ghetto area of Warsaw - where Jews were kept in atrocious conditions, and regularly subject to purges and mass killings. As in his previous book, the author paints a dark, stark and fearful picture of the area, including details of how people survived and the resistance managed to make their stand. Kalisz promises to supply them with weapons, but is hindered by his ability to procure them and get them past the German guards. There are some chilling scenes when Kalisz confronts the Nazi occupiers, or more often, is forced to stand by and witness the atrocities, unable to help. He is forced to work with Gestapo, with gangsters, and the resistance, all the time watching his back, unable to fully trust anyone.

Like the previous book, this is a combination thriller and police-procedural story, which moves along at a brisk pace, and features some exceptional set scenes between Kalisz and others. Oh, and the ending? Let's just say, book three can't come quick enough for me.

This book will appeal to fans of the previous story, and those of Chris Lloyd, Simon Scarrow and Luke McCallin. Heartily recommended.

this was a strong sequel in the Warsaw Quartet series, it uses the thriller elements that I was looking for and enjoyed from the concept. The overall feel worked with the setting and I was never bored when reading this. The characters had that concept that I was looking for and had a element that worked for the story. Douglas Jackson has a strong writing style and can't wait for more.

This was so suspenseful! The intense tension has been gripping me from the beginning, only increasing toward the conclusion of the novel! Brilliant characterization making the criminal investigation, the horrific setting of the ghetto very real and vivid. This novel is not only a police procedure: it is intimately embedded in the history of Warsaw and its ghetto. Some facts about the inside organisation were extremely interesting.... A great read!
I received a digital copy of this novel from NetGalley and I have voluntarily written an honest review.

Amazing follow up to the first in this quartet. If you havent read the first it might be a good idea so you under the main characters.
Very well written and although fiction it does give a feel for how bad the war was in Poland.
I cant wait for the third instalment.
Thanks for the opportunity to read and review

Wow this book was intense! Not only do the Jewish people in the ghetto have to deal with the Nazis they are also facing the prospect that there is a serial killer/cannibal roaming the ghetto. This is a very dark time in history and it’s described and written very well. I enjoy WWII thrillers and this didn’t disappoint. It really had me gripped and I found it hard to put down. This is the first Douglas Jackson book I have read and it won’t be the last. Very much looking forward to exploring more from this author. Highly recommend it’s a great read for the historical thriller fans.