“Don’t let what you’ve seen here change who you are, my love. don’t let the evil that the SS scum have inflicted imprison you. You will survive…you must live the most wondrous life, beyond any of our simple imaginations. Don’t let their hatred live. Leave it behind, and you will have won.”

This book, based on true events, takes the reader from Monte Sole, Italy in the 1940s to New York in the late 1950’s. The author paints a beautiful picture of the picturesque town in Italy. There the reader is introduced to Liliana and her close knit family. The town is occupied by the Germans, but the residents have been mostly left to themselves. Enter James, an American POW, and the resistance rebels, Stella Rosa.

As James and Liliana’s stories intersect, the Germans destroy the beautiful town and as many of its residents as possible to punish them for harboring the resistance fighters. Liliana devastatingly watches her family murdered right in front of her. James, who has since joined up with Stella Rosa, also witnesses the murders and eventually leads Liliana to safety after their perilous escape from the burning town.

Fast forward and reader learns that James has become a writer. Liliana has moved on with her life as well. The two finally meet again in New York, after James has written an article about the murders at Monte Sole. The story also follows one of the German SS officers responsible for the massacre at Monte Sole. The reader learns about the escape route of many SS officers to safety through Argentina. This to me was the most disturbing part of the story. To know that these men who became monsters were in essence welcomed, and allowed to live freely and lavishly in another country made me feel disgusted. To realize this is actual history made it even more indigestible.

In an effort not to give too much of this important story away, James and Liliana begin to research the officer they remember and have seen semi-recent pictures of. In the end they both must grapple with their sorrow, their feelings of revenge and their sense of justice.

This was such an amazingly emotional read. The book starts off a tad slow, but stick with it, the wait is worth it. The author is one I will seek out again.

Thank you NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for allowing me to read this as an advance copy.

I could not put this book down read it within a day.

I had not read a book on the massacre of the woman & children in Montesole before and it certainly was thought provoking.

Liliana survives the shooting of her family and James who is the American soldier that her family helped when he had escaped the Germans. He saves her from the Germans and eventually escape.

Over the next 12 years they think of each other even James does try to search for Liliana. Eventually they meet up again and Liliana has never forgotten about the German officer who was there that day when he ordered the shooting of the villagers.

Will she find him and if she does what happens to him.

I would recommend this book.

This story was very well written and inspired by true events. I appreciate all of the research that went into creating this book. It is heartbreaking and will stay with me for a very long time.
Many thanks to Lake Union Publishing and to NetGalley for providing me with a galley in exchange for my honest opinion.

I appreciate how The Longest Echo told a story about a seldom discussed, but nonetheless a heart-breaking event in history — the Monte Sole Massacre. I did find the specific passage about the village to be tough to read about, and it broke my heart that such atrocities were committed. I liked reading of James and Liliana's romance, and their mission to find the person who orchestrated the massacre and get answers. This was definitely a heavy read and took me time to get through.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC!

I have said it multiple times before.. I will say it again, now.. and (if this author keeps putting out books like this) I will most likely say it again and again... Dempsey blows my fucking mind.

With every new thing I read (and trust me I have read them all..) he just keeps getting better and better and better.

The books starts in Monte Sole in 1944 following the Nicoletti family through the daily routines of farm life.. the war is raging around them, the constant threat of violence moving ever closer. When an escaped American POW arrives on their doorstep the family will help him.. but at what cost?

The book continues through the next four decades, in a powerful narrative of grief, loss, triumph and redemption.

It is overwhelmingly heartbreaking to read the tale that is depicted in these pages, even more so when you realize that the incredibly well researched events are true.
I read one reviewer who wrote something about the characters not being flushed out.. and it was hard to get emotionally attached to them.. while I don't think I would disagree with that.. this book isn't about them. They are merely a conduit to a larger purpose... and in THAT MISSION.. the author delivers... repeatedly and in spectacular fucking fashion!

"The Longest Echo" is a long overdue love letter to every single man, women and child who lost their life in Monte Sole in 1944. And "They deserve it"!

What a beautifully written powerful book!!

Lilliana Nicoletti is a young girl growing up in the shadow of Monte Sole, a beautiful mountain in Italy. Her area has seen its share of Nazis searching for partisan fighters. One day the Nazis decide killing the fighters is not enough and they round up the elders, women, and children of the area and murder them. Thanks to an American POW she had recently helped, Lilliana escapes and goes on to live life in America. Many years later, she and the POW meet again and decide to hold the man who ordered the killing of her family accountable.

I had never heard of the Monte Sole Massacre prior to reading this book. On that horrible day, over 700 people were murdered by Nazis who said they were "just following orders." Eoin Dempsey obviously did his research as his retelling of a massacre in the town cemetery was detailed and portrayed the gruesome reality of the day. The fictional story that takes place after the massacre is well told and has a comfortable rhythm to it. I was impressed with Dempsey's writing and an obvious understanding of them even. His empathy for the people of the region is also evident and, in my opinion, goes a long way in the writing of this story.

The Longest Echo, by Eoin Dempsey, is the compelling true story of the Nazi massacres in the mountainous villages of Italy, and its’ aftermath. Two protagonists, a survivor of a massacre and an American POW, join forces to escape and find safety. Despite the span of decades, this story moves breakneck speed and is a fairly quick read. The story is enriched by vivid detail that created an almost visual story. Although I wish the characterizations were more nuanced, I believe that the two main characters represent the millions of civilians who were victims and the American servicemembers who witnessed the horror and fought against it.

This is a mixed-genre novel: part war-story, part-thriller, part romance. Dempsey does a fine job of weaving the three together. At its core, however, it is a story of survival. It also asks, but cannot completely answer, the question of how educated, cultured, and sophisticated people could perpetrate such unmitigated and barbaric violence on men, women, and children. There is much to think about and learn in this story.

Thanks to NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for the opportunity to read this provocative story.

Set in Nazi controlled Italy in WWII, this novel tells the story of the Massacre of Monte Sol. The tale seemed too far fetched for my belief until I did some internet research and found that the events in the first half of the book are factual. The Nazis lined up women and children in a cemetery and machine gunned them in reprisal for acts of sabotage by the Italian partisans.
The second half of the book deals with the search for the Nazi commander who ordered the murder of the protagonists' family. The story leads to a small resort town in Argentina called Bariloche. Again, internet research confirmed that Bariloche was a haven for Nazi war criminals. SS Hauptsturmfuhrer Erich Priebke was the commander of a unit of German soldiers who committed a similar atrocity in Rome in response to actions of the Italian partisans. Although convicted of war crimes, Priebke escaped to Argentina and lived as a free man in Bariloche for 50 years before he broke his silence and was extradited to Italy.
If you are interested in the history of WWII, but want to learn it in a fictional setting, this book, like the author's previous book White Rose, Black Forrest, is highly recommended.
Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for providing an advance reader copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

The Longest Echo was a nice and interesting story. Liliana was an interesting and alright character and i really liked the writing.

Loved it!! It's hard to believe these horrific events actually took place. All those villages in the Italian mountains wiped out and the deaths of so many innocent people. Enjoyed the story, characters and writing style. James and Liliana were perfect for each other. They were always there at the right time to help each other. I understand how Brack's face and voice is forever etched in Liliana's memory. His actions changed her life. I can't believe how many people were willing to help the SS men after the war. Argentina was like living in Germany for them. They were able to hide under a new identity but still celebrate their Nazi beliefs.

Definitely recommend the book, especially of you enjoy historical fiction. Look forward to reading more books by the author.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Lake Union Publishing through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

The book was ok. A little slow to start out, didn't maintain my interest and I had several starts and stops, but once I got past that it was a good story. There was quite a bit of violence in part so if sensitive consider this a warning. Felt the characters were a tad bit flat.
3 stars

I received this book from the publisher through Netgalley for review and all thoughts and opinions are my own.
This tale is one often told in wartime historical fiction. This book is similar to many in the genre. Yet, it is compelling and flows well. Girl meets boy under horrific conditions. Life tries to begin again and go back to some resemblance to normal. It's impossible with nightmares and losses. At the center of this novel are themes of revenge and restoration. Can one ever forget? Can one find themselves and a form of humanity after such horror? Good book for a rainy day.

This was an interesting read, and one that will captivate you. The beginning was a bit slow, and it took me some time to get into the story, but once it picks up, you are going to become more invested in the characters, and maybe even find yourself flipping back to the beginning!

I didn't know that this was inspired by true events. There are some aspects of WWII that I am not super strong in, and I found myself learning something new!

Great weekend read!

I’m an avid reader of Second World War novels so was excited to receive this review copy.
“The Longest Echo”is partly set in Italy during the war and partly afterwards. It tells the story of Liliana, a young girl living with her family on a remote mountain in Tuscany. One day they come across James, an escaped American prisoner of war and they hide him, subsequently enabling his escape to join the partisans despite the great personal danger to themselves.
When the Nazis retaliate for resistance activity by murdering locals, Liliana and James are thrust together in an exciting tale of escape and blossoming romance. This was a section of the book I just couldn’t put down, it was real edge of your seat stuff!
However the book does not end there as it contains a whole post war part which is equally as exciting as James and Liliana meet again and try to lay their wartime ghosts to rest, a quest that takes them from New York to Italy to a little known place in Argentina called Bariloche where there is a hold your breath climax to their story. This author certainly knows how to build tension and keep his readers engrossed!
This was an excellent novel, well researched with real characters who were broken by events in the war but who were also able to pull themselves back from the brink. A major theme is how the past can have such an effect on the pèsent so that it is impossible to live normally until the issues are resolved. This is true for both Liliana and James. It examines justice and the nature of forgiveness as well as the impossibility of some criminals ever being able to take responsibility for their actions. This applies to both the Nazis in the story as well as people closer to home, particularly for James as he confronts someone from his own past.
This was a great read which was so good that I raced through it in a few days. The characters really resonated with me and I have no hesitation in recommending this book. Definitely five stars!
Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for my arc in exchange for an honest review.

Italy 1944. Living in the remote mountain regions south of Bologna, the Nicoletti farm is inspected by the German army every couple of weeks and help themselves to whatever they want. So far the family hasn’t been hurt, they hear rumors about civilians being massacred in Tuscany, because they aided the local resistance and they need to be careful.

James Foley is an American POW traveling on a train when it's bombed by the allies, creating a hole in the carriage and he escapes. He stumbles upon the Nicoletti farm and they offer him food, shelter for one night and will take him to the local partisans the next day. The Stella Rosa camp is hidden high in the mountains, James is looking down on the town and he notices the Germans acting in an odd way and he’s very worried. The Germans lead by Werner Beck launch a vicious attack on the innocent citizens, almost everyone living in Monte Sole are killed and because Beck assumes they have helping the resistance. Liliana is extremely lucky to survive, James rescues her; they begin a difficult journey to find the allied lines and dodge German patrols the whole way. They make it but Liliana is injured, she will be fine and James has to rejoin his unit.

Twelve years later Liliana is a widow, she married the doctor who treated her during the war and moved to America. James is divorced, his marriage was a disaster and he’s working as a journalist for a New York magazine. Both Liliana and James still suffer from what happened to them during WW II in Italy and both have terrible nightmares. Liliana wants revenge for her family and she’s sure that Werner Beck is still alive, living in Argentina and she’s determined to find him. The couple join forces, once in Argentina Liliana is certain she’s found Beck and she wants to kill him!

This is when the story gets a bit over the top for me, I really enjoyed reading the first part of the book set in Italy and I found what happened in Argentina too dramatic. I received a copy of The Longest Echo from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review and four stars from me.

James escapes from a POW train and is hidden by the Nicoletti family. He goes to fight with the local partisans and witnesses a massacre by the Germans. One woman escapes, it is Liliana Nicoletti. Her whole family is gone but James saves her life and they escape to the allies. On the way Liliana is shot and while she is in the hospital James is sent back to the front. Twelve years later they meet again in New York City. Liliana is still seeking revenge on Werner Brack, the Nazi who ordered the massacre.

I found the first part of the story exciting. The people that lived in Monte Sole were poor farmers. They knew of the partisans but were content to do their work and stay out of trouble. When the Germans take revenge on the citizens the story was breathtaking. The images of the people being killed with blood everywhere was horrendous and horrifying. Their run to safety through the mountains hoping to find people alive was just so vivid. The second part of the story felt a lot slower. Liliana is a wealthy widow and offers to spend the money for her and James to go to Argentina in search of Werner Brack. Liliana still had her demons and at times I felt like I was missing something. I wanted to know more about her and what she was thinking as they did the search. She seemed to be going behind James's back. He was a simpler character. His motivation was to find the villain and bring him to justice but Liliana wanted more.

Thank you to Netgalley and Lake Union for providing me with a copy of this wonderful story.

Based on a true story this book tells the story that takes place in Italy. In 1944 hundreds of people - mainly women and children - are killed in the town of Monte Sole. Just a teenager young Liliana sees her family killed right before her eyes. With the help of James, a POW who witnessed the massacre while hiding out, saves Liliana and they set out to get revenge on the people that did this. This is my first book by author Eoin Dempsey and I highly recommend it! I learned something about history that I knew nothing about.

The words on the pages had me spellbound! I was obsessed with each exchange between the characters that I could not put down my Kindle and go to sleep. I stayed up all night to finish the book! The historical facts that took place just broke my heart and I literally cried for all those lives lost in the Massacre of Monte Sole.
Liliana Nicoleti is a young girl who faces loss and travesty due to Germans occupation in her homeland of Italy. Her family finds a injured escaped POW soldier James Foley. Her father helps him find a band of rebel partisans. However, due to there constant strikes and another rebel group the Germans decide to make an advanced effort to eradicate and make a example of these actions from these two groups. The Germans come in and start destroying everything from children to the oldest living person. They also burn down any building that they can and steal whatever they can to enable them to make a push against the Allies making a giant push.
Liliana is one of the few survivors and she and James meet again later to track down war criminals. However, can Liliana take the hatred out of her heart and not do anything that will destroy herself? What about James as well?

The author has written a book that is UNPUTDOWNABLE. The characters are developed beautifully from the beginning to the end. I cannot imagine the research. I did some myself after reading this book and I felll into tears. It was so poignant just like the Jewish annihilation.

If I could give this more than five stars, I would give it ten stars. I definitely would recommend!!

I received a free advanced copy from NetGalley and these are my willingly given thoughts and opinions.

Wow. This book is jam packed with excitement, from Italy during WWII to the US post-war, to Nazi hunting in Argentina. The story centers around Liliana and James, who met briefly in Italy when they saved each other. Liliana’s entire family was killed by the Nazis and James was an American soldier, an escaped POW. Fast forward eleven years and they meet again in NYC and decide to go to Argentina to look for the Nazi who was responsible for murdering her family, demolishing her village and ruining her life. This is an intense page-turner.

Wow! This is one book that will stay with me long after I finished. The way the author introduces the story, to the detail, just transfixed me as a reader. If historical fiction from WW2 is a genre you love then this book will no doubt please you. As a reader, I cannot get enough of that time period as it is an important time to remember.

I voluntarily reviewed a copy of this book provided by NetGalley.