THE ONE MAN
August 23, 2016
STARRED Reviews in Booklist, Kirkus, and Publishers Weekly!
"Gross has written his most heartfelt and compelling book to date, and fans of World War II fiction should add this to their reading lists." - The Washington Post
1944. Physics professor Alfred Mendl is separated from his family and sent to the men’s camp, where all of his belongings are tossed on a roaring fire. His books, his papers, his life’s work. The Nazis have no idea what they have just destroyed. And without that physical record, Alfred is one of only two people in the world with his particular knowledge. Knowledge that could start a war, or end it.
Nathan Blum works behind a desk at an intelligence office in Washington, DC, but he longs to contribute to the war effort in a more meaningful way, and he has a particular skill set the U.S. suddenly needs. Nathan is fluent in German and Polish, he is Semitic looking, and he proved his scrappiness at a young age when he escaped from the Polish ghetto. Now, the government wants him to take on the most dangerous assignment of his life: Nathan must sneak into Auschwitz, on a mission to find and escape with one man.
This historical thriller from New York Times bestseller Andrew Gross is a deeply affecting, unputdownable series of twists and turns through a landscape at times horrifyingly familiar but still completely compelling.
Critical Praise for THE ONE MAN
“As moving as it is gripping. A winner on all fronts.”
—Booklist (starred review)
"A heart-pounding thriller set in the bowels of Auschwitz... This is Gross' best work yet, with his heart and soul imprinted on every page."
— Kirkus, STARRED Review
"Bestseller Gross (Everything to Lose) revisits the horrors of Auschwitz in this harrowing, thematically rich thriller, which marks a significant departure from his previous contemporary suspense novels... a compelling celebration of the human will to survive, remember, and overcome."
— Publishers Weekly, STARRED Review
THE ONE MAN blew me away, the book of Andrew Gross's career — unbearably suspenseful at times, heartbreaking and inspiring, surprising to the last page. It's magnificent.
— Joseph Finder, NYT bestselling author of Guilty Minds and Suspicion
“A haunting and thrilling tale of World War II, a masterful blend of family and duty laced with heroism, and characters that are intriguing and richly drawn. Andrew Gross’s best book, bar none. You must read it!"
— Steve Berry, NYT Bestselling author of The 14th Colony
“A high-stakes historical thriller that never relents. Suspenseful, taut, and terrific.”
— David Morrell, NYT bestelling author of Murder as a Fine Art
"A truly amazing piece of work--powerful, emotional, gripping--all the things a great book should be and so much more." — Lorenzo Carcaterra, NYT bestselling author of Sleepers and The Wolf.
"The horrors of Holocaust are never less than gut-wrenching. When focused on one man, the imperative of his rescue bringing with it knowledge essential to defeating the Axis Powers, the suspense of that story becomes gut-wrenching, too. High stakes indeed. And Andrew Gross brings a full arsenal of the novelist's skills to The One Man, yet none is so essential as the personal outrage powering the narrative, driving him deep into each character portrayed to create an immersive experience for the reader. When you turn the last page, be sure to read on to the Epilogue."
— Barbara Peters, The Poisoned Pen Bookstore, Scottsdale, Arizona
"THE ONE MAN is totally engrossing--I read it in two sittings!--and full of twists and turns. I was particularly moved that so much of this fantastic story was based on truth and clearly so personal to write. Do not miss this book."
— Candice Cohen, Palm Beach Books, Florida
"THE ONE MAN is a superb tale of espionage and heroism in WWII with the highest stakes. Gross knows how to ratchet up the suspense — and then some, to an emotional finale. I'm still shaking."
— Otto Penzler, Mysterious Bookshop, New York, NY
"So powerful, authentic. An ode to courage, daring, family and secrets. I can't wait for August 2016 to put The One Man in everyone's hands."
— Diane Garrett, Diane's Books, Greenwich, CT
"If you can read this book without your heart in your mouth or finish without a tear in year eye, I’d be very surprised. This is a wonderful and memorable book, definitely one of the reads of the year."
— Robin Agnew, Aunt Agatha's
"If you love Andrew Gross's page turning thrillers, you're going to be amazed by The One Man. It features all the hallmarks you love about his books, but this time the story is rooted in the reality of World War II. It packs an emotional wallop and is his best novel to date."
— Michael Steinmacher, Head Librarian, Ft. Knox, KY
"Andrew Gross has found his calling in his new book, The One Man, coming out in September from Minotaur, a division of Macmillan. I have been a fan of Andrew Gross and his books since he began his career and I believe The One Man is outstanding. It surpasses even some of the top writers of our time.
The One Man captures the lingering horrors of World War II and its long-lasting residual effects on not only the victims of Nazi soldiers, but their families as well. It focuses mostly on people, rather than the crimes committed by the Nazis. But is also shows how the Nazis exterminated some of the greatest minds the world will ever see.
Andrew Gross did extensive research for this project, interviewing numerous survivors, studying documents, books, journals. Among the interviews he conducted was that of his 95-year-old father-in-law who escaped Warsaw just months before the war. He was the only one in his family to survive.
The book is written with compassion and sheds light on little known aspects of the war. Don’t miss this as it shows Andrew Gross’s wonderful talent."
— Cheryl Kravitz, Classic Books, Pam Beach, FLA