Shari Ryan is an incredible author. I always enjoy her books and she does a wonderful job of immersing the reader in WW2 history.
This book focuses on Ella and Luka. They live in Warsaw, he is Jewish, and they fall in love, but are separated and both end up being imprisoned at Auschwitz. Luka's singing keeps Ella going and they are full of hope to be together again.
I intend to read the book as I did not particularly enjoy the narration.
Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for access to this eARC.

The Singer Behind the Wire by Shari J. Ryan
Narrated by Emma Powell

When nineteen year old Polish Catholic Ella first saw and heard Jewish Luka sing in their city of Warsaw, she was entranced, as were the others who heard him sing. What a risk he was taking, singing in a city that was controlled by those who were doing what they could to squash Jewish people like bugs. When she sees that Luka is in trouble, Ella doesn't hesitate to help him. Thus begins a friendship and romance that is forbidden and could get both of them imprisoned and/or killed.

Twenty year old Luka has no idea why almost all the men of working age have been taken to "work" camps but he's still allowed to live with his mother and grandmother in Warsaw. He'd be a much more suitable worker than his elderly grandfather but Luka is still left in the city, singing for coins as his only way of working since Jews have so many restrictions on them as to what they can do. But without the few coins Luka can bring in, his mother and grandmother would surely starve.

Things only get worse and eventually Luka, his mother, and his grandmother are living in the Warsaw ghetto in a tiny room full of people. Ella is determined to find Luka. As their dangerous and hanging by a thread lives are destroyed further, Ella and Luka eventually find themselves in another horrible existence. Yes they are still alive, but for how long? At least Ella can "hear" Luka because it's his beautiful voice that allows him to live at this time. But that voice can only last so long with so little to eat and in such terrible conditions.

This is a love story that stands out above the horrible conditions that Ella and Luka find themselves in and they will love each other to the ends of their lives. Each is willing to give all for the other. Emma Powell narrates this heartbreaking story of love and perseverance. While it hurt to hear the things that happen here, it is also a story of how love can encourage one to keep going.

Thank you to Bookouture Audio and NetGalley for this ARC.

Book Title: The Singer Behind the Wire
Author: Shari J. Ryan
Publisher: Bookouture Audio
Format: 🎧
Audiobook Narrator: Emma Kim Churchill
Genre: Historical Fiction, WWII
Pub Date: June 5, 2025
My Rating: 4.3 Stars
Pages: 410

Ella is a young Polish girl living in war torn Warsaw. She’ had fallen in love with Luka’s voice the first time she heard him singing on the street corner near her house. When she meets him; his kind smile and joyous laugh brings joy to Ella. They soon fall deeply in love.
However he is Jewish and she is not and therefore forbidden to marry.

They are separated in Warsaw and discover both have been sent to Auschwitz.
Ella doesn’t know if he is alive or not.
Luka's singing brought them together and now his singing as he is forced to sing while he watches his fellow Jews led to their death.

Story follows Ella quest to find him.

This was my fifth story book by Shari J. Ryan. I was first drawn to her psychological thrillers which were all excellent!
I am not a big fan of WWII stories are usually so disturbing as it was a time when the unthinkable happened. However, I read and love " The Family Behind the Walls".

I am not Jewish but I worked as the Director of College Guidance at a Jewish Day School. The founder was a wonderful Holocaust survivor
who we all called Papa. He and his wife often told us stories of their survival; I know it is important that we never forget.

I love Ms. Ryan- she is a wonderful story teller. She is the granddaughter and great-granddaughter of Holocaust survivors, Shari brings a deeply personal connection to her work. Her stories are rooted in truth and remembrance, written to ensure history is never forgotten. In this case she took a disturbing/emotional situation and had me glued.

A negative regarding this audiobook is that it did not include author’s notes and/or Acknowledgements which is rather typical of audiobook. However, it always something I enjoy reading. There is no doubt Ms. Ryan did extensive for this story.

I want to thank NetGalley and Bookouture Audio for this uncorrected proof.
Publishing Release Date scheduled for June 5, 2025.