Congratulations to author Mark deMeza on the recent release and great reader reviews of The Thirteenth Child, a World War II historical novel based upon a heart-wrenching true story. Readers moved by Schindler’s List, The Tattooist of Auschwitz, and The Boy in the Striped Pajamas will be touched by this gripping story.
★★★★★ "Enthralling, harrowing, educational, beautifully written." ~Amazon UK Review
The Thirteenth Child
Released on January 24, 2024 to commemorate World Holocaust DayGenre: Historical Fiction
4.4 stars, 213 ratings on Goodreads
4.3 stars, 371 ratings on Amazon
Paperback: $12.99
Ebook: $0.99 (Free via Kindle Unlimited)
Inspired by the true story of the author’s ancestors, this enthralling WWII novel tells of the Kisch family’s heart-wrenching struggle against Nazi oppression.
When the Nazis invade the Netherlands in 1940, the Jews of Amsterdam know nothing of the Final Solution and the Holocaust. As the measures imposed by the cruel SS become ever more repressive, sister and brother, Rachael and Hendrik, join the Dutch Resistance. Meanwhile, their parents, Franck and Elizabeth, strive to keep their younger brother, Hannes, safe. But time is against them all, as every day more and more Jews are being deported to unknown camps in Eastern Europe. Will the family be able to stay together and survive?
Praise for The Thirteenth Child
★★★★★ "A stunningly good first novel, based on Mark deMeza’s shocking recent discovery of what happened to his family in wartime Amsterdam and their transportation to the Nazi death camps. The author skillfully interweaves a harrowing account of the fates of the fictional Kisch family with the historical events, places and main characters of the era (a compelling mix of the best and worst of humanity)." ~Amazon UK Review
Bonus: Sign up for Mark's newsletter and get a free copy of the Four Seconds collection of short stories that take you from the Golden Gate Bridge to Nazi-occupied Czechoslovakia, and from a tense dining-room to a graffiti-covered underpass.
About the Author
Born in Manchester but now living in Cheshire with his wife and daughter, Mark deMeza wrote his first draft novel when he was 17 years old. Like many other aspiring authors, he fell in step with a "steady" career and income, but the yearning to write gurgled away in the pit of his stomach.When a shaft of light presented itself in his busy life, he started writing short stories and was lucky enough to have many published or praised in competitions.
In May 2022, a convenient break in his steady career appeared, and, at the same time, he discovered the dreadful truth about his Jewish ancestors’ plight under the Nazis in the Netherlands. He then embarked on his first full-length novel, The Thirteenth Child, a piece of historical fiction, but with the experiences of his ancestors permeating every word.
Silently supported by his black-and-white cat and often distracted by his ADHD, Mark published The Thirteenth Child in January 2024. He is now working on a sequel to be released later this year. Learn more at markdemeza.co.uk., sign up for his free newsletter, and be sure to follow Mark online:
