A decade after the Second World War has ended Sixteen year old Friedrich is mourning the death of his adoptive Mother when something compels him to begin a search for his Birth Mother.

Left at an orphanage during the Second World War he was quickly adopted by a young family desperate for a child of their own.

During the War Josef is enlisted young, because of his size and strength but he knows that he does not want to be a part of it.

He doesn't want to enlist, but knows he doesn't have a choice. To refuse would not only have terrifying consequences for him, but his whole family.

What Josef takes part in and sees throughout the War cannot be undone, but can one final act make him seem human at least?

And just how are Josef and Friedrich's stories entwined?

It is a tragic, but beautiful story of how the smallest of threads can link generations.

What an amazing story. Did find it a little difficult to work out who was related to who to begin with as each chapter was jumping from decade to decade but then became totally immersed and reluctant to let go! Told partly from the German soldier’s perspective during the persecution of the Jews during WW2, it is basically the tale of a Jewish boy, Friedrich, intent upon discovering who and where he comes from. He was three and a half when he was left hiding behind a panel in the kitchen of the family home. After the death of his adopted mother, Friedrich asks the help of Sigrid, the young lady at the orphanage from where he was adopted by Dieter and Minna. He is determined to find his birth mother from the ruins of war torn Germany and the fading memories begin to reveal themselves. There is the small Jewish Toy shop in Munich where his mother crochets the beautiful toy animals, Joseph, the bear of a man, who becomes a reluctant soldier in the Einsatzgruppen with his friend Gunter plus many other fascinating, emotive characters who become so real and so very human under the penmanship of the author. A truly enlightening and beautiful story, brilliantly told.

Glenn Shapiro's historical fiction novel, 'The Threads Remain', is a moving and emotive narrative against the historic backdrop of Nazi Germany and World War II. The novel deftly interweaves the lives of four different characters: Max and Gerda, a Jewish couple who own a toy shop, and Josef and Friedrich, whose destinies become entangled with that of the couple.

The novel explores the enormous personal sacrifices and ethical choices made by everyday people in a period of unprecedented upheaval. The authorial voice is a tribute to the strength of the human spirit, as it illustrates the deep bonds that can be created even amidst the most dire situations. The converging storylines build a suspenseful and emotionally engaging experience.

This book is not so much a war novel; it's an intensely human investigation into identity, conscience, and the lasting impact of our decisions. 'The Threads Remain' is an emotional and beautifully crafted novel that will linger with you long after you've closed the cover. It's a must-read for anyone who enjoys historical fiction and tales of human survival.

I absolutely loved this book! The plot, the characters, and the atmosphere all came together perfectly for me. Thank you to the writer, publisher, and NetGalley for letting me read this book.

I was really pleased to review this book and was really thought provoking. World War 2 and the Jewish people are suffering and dying under the Nazi and we think all SS were the same but take Josef who had little choice but to go through what the Fuhrer and other high ranking officers. It was a complicated time in history and brain washing which had taken place over a period of time- difficult to say now what you would do?

The story takes some leaps and bounds at times as the timeline flips around - between Friedrich in 1957 and Josef in the early 1940s, as well as young Friedrich at the same time, we essentially follow the journeys of the two men.

This highlights being forced in situations that are terrible but at the same time moving forward to a better future.

A well researched story that is heart-breaking but there is kindness, finding oneself and a better future.

Recommended and was out for publication June 2025.

This is a truly harrowing World War II story that is focused on the torment and real suffering that the Jews had to live (and die) through.

This is the first historical novel I have read where one of the POV's is from a German soldier. Each previous novel in this genre has really been told through the eyes of 'our' side, or those who were deeply affected by Hitlers reign, so reading one from the 'other side' was actually a real eye opener.

A multi timeline plot, the main character, Josef, is called to war. Now, while he may be what they classed as a strapping lad, he's not one for confrontation. He has a big heart to match his stature.

Josef very quickly comes to realise just how wrong the Germans and their army are. Nobody should be vilified because of their race or religion, so why is he having to treat, herd, and kill these people?

Also told from the POV of Frederick, a young German man who was adopted when very young. After the death of his mother, whom he adored, he decides to trace his birth parents. What he doesn't realise is just how hard it will be and where the search will eventually take him *no spoilers*

A story told through decades that takes you on a heartwrenching journey into the deeply horrific times of WWII. This sat with me for days after, which to me is the sign of a great story!

Huge thanks to Netgalley and BeRead Ltd for the ARC.

Friedrich is 4 years old when he is adopted in 1945. At the age of 16 his adoptive mother dies and he tells his adoptive father that he wishes to find his birth parents. He starts at the orphanage from which he was adopted and meets Sigrid, another orphan of the war who was never adopted.
Told in 3 different time lines this is a beautifully told story of love and war.

The Threads Remain is a tender, heartbreaking novel of WWII Germany, from those trying to survive the horrors of war to a young orphan, years later, seeking to understand the past and what occurred. I initially thought the writing a bit spare but found a simpler approach kept the story tight and to the point. War novels can easily spiral beyond the brief but this kept nicely to the stories of our main characters.

In The Threads Remain the story pivots around the people linked with a handmade, stuffed bear named Barli. Mainly, the Jewish woman who made him, the boy who chose him as a birthday gift and an orphan years after the war searching for his biological parents. As one might expect, this novel is a powerful one but one that feels like essential reading in our current climate.

The story is well plotted with the timeline jogs and dovetailing of critical points rendered seamlessly. It is hard reading at times, particularly the story of Josef, a large 15 year old boy who is forced into the SS, who, as a boy, chose Barli as his birthday gift. His story is painful and, though his is not a story of redemption, as such, it is a story of humanity; moving beyond a difficult, unchangeable, past and striving to make a better future going forward. It is in the gift of all of us to do the right thing, show compassion and act with a kind heart toward our fellow man, regardless of differences. The Threads Remain is a sublime, compelling reminder of this.

This is a wonderful book! I have read a lot of WWII novels and didn't think that there could be any new angles but I was proved wrong. The author weaves the connections between Josef, Friedrich and the Biermanns with such skill. Anyone who doubts the power of fiction to lay bare the darkest periods of human history should read this book. It is too easy to lump all Germans together during the war, but we know that there was resistance and people who were prepared to risk their lives to help and hide Jewish families. The question is always asked, how could this happen? None of us know what we would do if we were in that situation. What we would do to survive. Josef should be a figure to hate but I ended up feeling sorry for him. If there is redemption from evil acts then I'd like to think that he achieves this by his actions in the end. By writing the story from two points of view the sheer horror is heartbreakingly told. And what a bonus to find out that Barli does exist!

This was a fantastic read, one of those books that you can’t put down because the story grips you. Set during and post WW2 it tells the story of a young man Josef, and how his life unfolds in ways he could never have imagined. His toy bear Bärli lives through it all with him.

Post war another young man, Friedrich, is trying to find out the path that led him to his adoptive parents. Their lives were linked but Friedrich had no knowledge of Josef. Once Friedrich met Sigurd all that changed and his life story began to fall into place.

I highly recommend this book and thank NetGalley, the publisher and the author for the chance to read it.

An enjoyable and engaging WW2 saga following the stories of different generations from pre-war 1930s Germany to the post-war period. Max and Gerda are a young Jewish couple forced into hiding, Josef is a fifteen-year old schoolboy with an impressive physique who is drafted into the SS and Frederick is a war orphan, adopted from an orphanage and searching for his birth family. The author juggles the different timelines and viewpoints effectively and manages to weave a compelling story about the effect of war on people’s motivations and decisions.

Thanks to NetGalley for an opportunity to read an advance copy.

First, I’d like to thank NetGalley, Glenn Shapiro, and Brandylion Press for the opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

The Threads Remain is a quietly powerful novel that weaves together memory, identity, and the lingering echoes of the past. Glenn Shapiro crafts a story that unfolds delicately, pulling readers through its pages with a sense of emotional depth and poetic prose.

What stood out most to me was the writing style—subtle yet evocative, with a reflective tone that makes you pause and think. The characters felt deeply human, shaped by loss, hope, and the quiet resilience of simply moving forward. The pacing may be a bit slower for some readers, but for those who enjoy introspective, character-driven stories, this is a rewarding read.

Shapiro’s exploration of how the past threads its way through the present is beautifully executed, and the emotional undercurrents run deep without ever feeling forced. It's a novel that invites you to sit with it and reflect—perfect for readers who appreciate literary fiction with heart and soul.

Overall, a thoughtful and moving book I’d recommend to fans of reflective fiction and lyrical storytelling.

In 1944 little Jewish Friedrich, playing in the square below the flat where he lives, is carefully watched by his mutti (mother). She suddenly receives a message that causes her to rush out and grab Friedrich so that she can hide him. He is told to remain silent and is shut behind a kitchen cupboard door where he stays for what seems like forever until rescued by a stranger.

Born in 1928, Max eventually takes over his parents general store, full of a mixture of items ranging from pots and pans to socks, together with a few toys. He meets Gerda who gives “makeovers” to soft toys by making glorious outfits for them, and especially loves to clothe Steiff animals. Needless to say Max and Gerda Biermann, both Jewish marry and convert their shop to Biermanns Toy Shop. One particular favourite toy, given the name of Bärli bear is purchased by the parents of Josef Zohar’s.

As the years go by Joseph ends up as a somewhat reluctant SS Officer much to the delight of his mother.

How does a very young Friedrich end up as the possessor of Bärli?

A heart-stopping, beautifully written novel of the trials of wartime. I couldn’t put this book down and shed many tears whilst reading late into the night.

An absolutely outstanding book. At first slightly confusing, but didnt take long to settle into the story and understand and really care for the characters. Really engaging storytelling, and didnt feel like fiction. I enjoyed hearing the different perspectives and the separate stories were really well woven to get to the ending.
I felt real empathy for all the characters, including the ones you wouldn't expect to.
Very highly recommend this book, hope the author writes more WW2 stories.

The ‘thread’ that binds this book’s story together is powerful, exhilarating, emotional and wonderful! A masterpiece by the author. I don’t normally read ‘war stories’ simply because they make me sad about the current world we live in but this book, helps us find hope in the darkest of times. The character’s descriptions make’s them come to life and feel like real people and apart of a true story. I especially enjoyed the foreword because it thread the author’s life and the novel’s storyline. I will keep this one in mind to recommend to friend’s and family as I feel it transcends age, gender, and life experiences.

Some novels ask you to read them—this one insists you remember.

The Threads Remain is a profoundly moving and morally unflinching story about legacy, silence, and the long shadows cast by war. From the moment we meet Friedrich in 1957 Munich, searching for clues about a past he never knew was his, we are pulled into a narrative that spans generations. Parallel to his journey, we follow Josef—a blond, blue-eyed teenager drafted into the Nazi killing machine—whose inner conflicts echo long after the war ends. With spare, deliberate prose, Shapiro traces how the most personal stories are inextricable from the machinery of history, and how identity can be both erased and reclaimed by the passing of time.

There is no spectacle here. The violence is bureaucratic, impersonal, numbing—just as it was in reality. And yet, threaded through this darkness is a subtle hope: that remembrance matters, that silence is not the final word.

The Threads Remain is not just a story—it’s a reckoning. With its historical precision, emotional resonance, and moral complexity, it stands among the most affecting novels I’ve read about the post-war legacy of the Holocaust.

Essential reading for fans of literary historical fiction that confronts history with sentiment and courage.

At first the chapters moving between different times had me confused, but as the stories began to intertwine all became much clearer.

There is goodness and evil in equal measure in this novel. The author's style is direct and concise, which makes the depiction of the brutal acts the SS soldiers were forced to carry out all the more chilling, and the terrible situations described extraordinarily tense.

At times, a brutal and unflinching novel in its depiction of war in Germany and the work of the fearsome Einsatzgruppen, whose role was to hunt down the Jews. At other times, compassionate and tender but without stepping into mawkishness. Not an easy read by any stretch but an excellent piece of work.

Ooh this book was incredible! Thanks to NetGalley for letting me read it. The timeline jumps around a bit, between Friedrich in 1957 and Josef in the early 1940s, as well as young Friedrich at the same time, as we follow their different paths through the war and how they intertwine… in more ways than expected. I love how historical fiction can make all these connections between characters that probably also happened in real life, but were so rare that few ever get told.

Josef’s story was fascinating, watching him begin as a gentle giant who, due to his size, ends up recruited into the SS. He is always a sympathetic character but we do see his young mind become indoctrinated into Nazism and it’s just so interesting and realistic to have a character who isn’t just Good or Bad, who does things which horrify him but who also starts to believe he is doing them because there is “no other way”… until there is.

And I loved Friedrich’s story as all the threads of his life came to light, how there were so many times a name was casually mentioned and you’d go “wait a minute I remember that person…” I kept wanting to skip back a few chapters to double check stuff but reading on a kindle makes that a lot harder!

I loved this and was left wanting a little more at the end. The only thing I didn’t like was how when German words were used, they were immediately followed with a translation in brackets, which broke the flow a little. A lot of them were unnecessary too - we don’t need to be told for example that Platz means “square” or Bahnhofstrasse means “train station street” and, if we do, a glossary of terms at the end would suffice. Most words used were either obvious from their context, or a translation wasn’t actually important to the story.

A book that cuts across history and tells the story of Jews during WW2, but also a German who was drafted into the SS and his struggles throughout. This is a heavy read but an important reminder of history.