Historical Fiction
Paris 1980
Who is Luc Kasten? A wealthy French industrialist? A wanted man? A Jew from
Avignon who has led a forged life? Or is he all three? Now, 35 years after
the end of WWII, he is ready to unburden himself and hires a veteran
journalist, Diane Jameson, to write his memoir. But years of hiding his
identity make him hesitate to share his grim secret. A chance encounter with
a past enemy spurs him to violence, and Diane, who finds herself falling in
love with him, joins Kasten in his struggle to outwit the man who can expose
him. What ensues is a cat-and-mouse thriller and a love story set against
the somber background of France during and after WWII.
Praise for The Polish Woman:
“A meticulous .. raw study of the relationship between Catholic and
Jewish Poles…” ~ The New York Times
“Vividly drawn characters … compelling, combining romance and
mystery and reminding us of the difficulty of unearthing personal truths
when one of history’s great cataclysms has buried them.” ~ The Wall
Street Journal
“A haunting portrait… Strongly evoked … The understated and
moving story of a woman whose memories open so many old wounds.” ~
Philadelphia Inquirer
Praise for Sunrise Shows Late:
“A deftly written story, full of danger, intrigue, suspense and
passion …” ~ Christian Science Monitor
“An austerely beautiful novel … love blossoms amid the chaos, rubble
and danger in a tale narrated with a calm restraint that adds to the
passion. ” ~ Publishers Weekly
EXCERPT
There was always something intimate about meeting in a hotel room.
Diane had done her share of interviews in more than ten years as a journalist. Informants often liked to meet in cafés, speaking in hushed voices hoping to be swallowed up by the clatter of forks on plates and waitresses interrupting to refill water. It was neutral ground, easy to stand up and retreat if the questions got too difficult. But she had also shouted questions over the faraway clatter of gunfire at army bases; she had offered her most nonthreatening smile through the glass of correctional facilities; she had even once, memorably, conducted an entire interview in whispers between stalls in the third-floor ladies’ room of the UN.
Hotel rooms were different. They were quiet, for one thing, words dropping into the still air with a heightened gravity. The intimacy? It was impossible to avoid the knowledge of the double bed behind the door, even as they sat on the other end of the room in plush armchairs.
About the Author
Eva Mekler is a writer and psychotherapist known for her work in fiction and non-fiction, often exploring themes related to Jewish identity, history, and psychological resilience. She has authored novels as well as books that delve into the psychology and dynamics of the acting profession. One of her well-known books, The New Generation of Acting Teachers, profiles influential acting coaches and explores their techniques and philosophies.
Mekler’s fiction work frequently draws from Jewish cultural and historical contexts, sometimes addressing the Holocaust and its aftermath. Her novels tend to focus on characters navigating personal and historical trauma, resilience, and identity.
