In the Shadow of the Storm

By: Ella Zeiss, Helen MacCormac - translator

Narrated by: Kathleen Gati

As World War II approaches, two families run for their lives - and for the future of all they hold dear.

1930: As raids and violent arrests sweep through their Crimean village, two families are forced to make desperate choices in order to keep themselves - and their hope - alive.

The Pfeiffers get out as quickly as they can, braving a last-minute escape in the dead of night. Their friends the Scholzes are less lucky. Captured and transported to labour camps in the icy Far North, the future seems a bleak, dark nightmare for the couple and their three children.

As the 1930s march towards the inevitable horror of war, and Europe is engulfed in hostility and persecution, the Pfeiffers find there is only so long - and so far - you can run before someone uncovers your past…

In their darkest hours, these two families must do everything - anything - to survive. Will they ever find peace in the new world order?

The first in a two-part touching and authentic family saga about a hitherto little-known chapter in history.

©2019 Ella Zeiss (P)2019 Brilliance Publishing, Inc., all rights reserved. Translation © 2019 by Helen MacCormac

I want all those in USA who are for socialism/communism to listen to this audio

As I listened I thanked God I lived in a country in which {so far] I’m free to talk and think the way I want Wonderful freedoms we have here. Yes there was equality for the German -Russian people in far western Russia. They equally lost their homes livelihood arrests for no reason .they equally were worked to death and starved equally. This particular book may not be true but based on my stories in Russia in the 1930’s only the names are different I was both very interested and very concerned about the subject matter. The narrator was great. No sex or profanity. The profanity was the Russian communist treatment of human beings. . It follows two families and I loved both of them every members...but a lot of vicious and cruel people were there too. Will listen to part two today. Author one of the best I’ve ever listened to.

Strength of Women

In a time when women were mostly considered mothers and housewives, this book really shows the strength and courage of the women who were left to tend to life as their husbands were shipped off to war or work camps.

The characters are well drawn and each is given a very distinct personality by the perfect narration of Ms. Gati.