Bunny's Reviews: Where David Threw Stones Review Spotlight

Welcome to the tour for Where David Threw Stones by Elyse Hoffman. Perfect for fans of The Book Thief.

Where David Threw Stones is an engaging historical fiction novel that the minute you start reading, you're not going to want to put this book down.

David is a little Jewish boy who recently lost his parents to a terrible car accident. They were murdered and while he was in the car with them, he survived the crash. He was a step away from being put into the system, but his paternal grandfather stepped forward to claim him. Now, he's off to a small town of Brennenbach, Germany. This small town houses a dark secret. David's grandfather is determined to shielf him from it, but then the family pup, Mozart, goes missing - David takes a dangerous risk. He's been told - don't leave the house after a certain time, and he's about to find out why.

David is an engaging character that will have you feeling a variety of emotions as you read this story. He's a Jewish boy living in the aftermath of World War II. There is still anti-Semitism feelings running rampant throughout Germany. So it shouldn't come as any surprise to the young boy that Brennenbach is no exception. He proudly wears his Kippah, but his grandfather shows signs that it just might not be a good idea. David's guilt plagues him concerning his parents, so he refuses to remove it. By doing so, it sheds light on a secret that his grandfather has been keeping for years.

I found this book to be so engaging I couldn't put it down. There were moments in this book that I had mixed feelings toward David. One minute I was feeling bad for him, and then I was disappointed in him. I totally understood his desire to stick to his faith and the standards that they hold. However, when it causes chaos and loss for his grandfather I was disappointed in him. Of course, he had no idea of that particular fact, and I thought - "well, if the grandfather had simply said something" but would it have really mattered? Who knows.

The deeper the story goes, the more you learn about the characters. You get flashbacks in the appropriate areas and it really fleshes the story out even more. You're eyes are absolutely going to blow wide when the curse makes an appearance in the storyline. It adds another level of drama to the story as David finds himself in quite the predicament again and again. Things go well for awhile, but then all it takes one misstep.

There are twists, turns, surprises, and so much more in this book. I absolutely love when the story ties into the title as well. It's absolutely perfect.

This book is a must read for lovers of historical fiction with unique twists that will keep them coming back for more. I've never read "The Book Thief" or "Beyond the Tracks" but if you've read those books and enjoyed them, then I'm sure you will enjoy this book as well. The attention to detail, the character development all lend themselves to create a truly engaging story. I look forward to reading more by this author in the future.

I am rating this book a well earned 5 out of 5 stars.

Thank you to the author, Elyse Hoffman, and R&R Book Tours for the opportunity to read and review this book.

Where David Threw Stones

Publication Date: September 27th, 2022

Genre: Historical Fantasy/ Historical Fiction/ WW2

“Welcome to the Brennenbach of Midnight! The Curse Hours have begun.”

West Germany, 1968

When ten-year-old David Saidel’s parents are murdered, he is sent to live with his grandfather in the anti-Semitic village of Brennenbach. Miserable and lonely, David finds solace in his kindly Grandpa Ernst, who has one strict rule: never go out after midnight.

When David breaks curfew to search for his missing dog, he discovers why Ernst is so serious about his curfew: Brennenbach is cursed. When midnight strikes, the town is thrown back to 1943, the height of Hitler’s reign.

The Nazi ghosts that infest Brennenbach are just as dangerous as they were in life. They’re hunting for David, thinking he is the last member of a family they’ve been ordered to destroy.

Through the help of a little girl named Maria Rahm, David sets out to end the Curse before it claims more victims.

Award-winning author Elyse Hoffman has crafted an expertly woven tale of World War II’s horrors – perfect for readers of Marcus Zusak’s “The Book Thief,” or Michael Reit’s “Beyond the Tracks.”

Check out the wonderful reviews on Goodreads and grab a copy today!

Available on Amazon

About the Author

Elyse Hoffman is an award-winning author who strives to tell historical tales with new twists. She loves to meld WWII and Jewish history with fantasy, folklore, and the paranormal. She has written six works of Holocaust historical fiction: The Barracks of the Holocaust five-book series and The Book of Uriel. Elyse’s books are the way to go if you love history and want to read some unique stories.

Elyse Hoffman