The Watchmaker’s War (Danny Ben-Moshe, HarperCollins)

In Danny Ben-Moshe’s debut novel, The Watchmaker’s War, Yakov Holtzman, a former Lithuanian underground resistance commander, hopes to leave the trauma of World War II behind him as he makes a new life in Australia. When past enemies resurface, the peace he has created begins to unravel. The novel’s fast-paced final quarter takes on elements of a thriller as Yakov confronts the secrets and betrayals of his past. This rigorously researched story exposes how the Australian government was complicit in helping Nazi collaborators from the Baltic regions settle in Australia, recruiting them as anti-Communist agents. It is rich in cultural detail, vividly portraying everyday life in St Kilda’s Jewish refugee community in the 1950s. While a significant amount of historical exposition is required to establish the plot, Ben-Moshe handles it succinctly in his unembellished style. At times, the characters verge on one-dimensional, serving more as conduits for the broader historical arc than as fully realised individuals. Some moments feel documentary-like – for instance, when characters recount their wartime experiences as if they’re speaking to camera – which is unsurprising given Ben-Moshe’s background as an award-winning documentary filmmaker. He undoubtedly has a real talent for transforming history into a compelling narrative. The Watchmaker’s War captures a fascinating, lesser-known chapter of World War II history that deserves attention and will particularly appeal to readers of Australian historical fiction in the vein of John Byrnes.

Books+Publishing reviewer: Megan Koch is an Adelaide-based writer with a background in bookselling and libraries. Books+Publishing is Australia’s number-one source of pre-publication book reviews.

Books+Publishing pre-publication reviews are supported by the Copyright Agency Cultural Fund.

Category: Daily newsletter Review Friday Unlocked reviews Reviews