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THE CRATE A Story of War, a Murder, and JusticeExplore and Engage: Live Shopping with Bridgetti

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Deborah Levison

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The Crate: A Story of War, a Murder, and Justice Kindle Edition

by Deborah Levison (Author) Format: Kindle Edition

4.2 459 ratings

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The multiple award-winning account of Holocaust survival and present-day murder. “Evocative, and inspiring . . . So much more than a true crime.”—Steve Jackson, New York Times bestselling author

After surviving the horrors of the Holocaust—in ghettos, on death marches, and in concentration camps—a young couple seeks refuge in Canada. They settle into a new life, certain that the terrors of their past are behind them. They build themselves a cozy little cottage on a lake in Muskoka, a cottage that becomes emblematic of their victory over the Nazis. The charming retreat is a safe haven, a refuge from haunted memories.

That is, until a single act of unspeakable violence defiles their sanctuary. Poking around the dark crawl space beneath their cottage, they discover a wooden crate, nailed tightly shut and almost hidden from view. Nothing could have prepared them for the horror of the crate’s contents—or how the peace and tranquility of their lives would be shattered.

Now, their daughter, Deborah Vadas Levison, an award-winning journalist, tells the extraordinary account of her parents’ ordeals, both in one of the darkest times in world history and their present-day lives. Written in searing, lyrical prose, The Crate: A Story of War, a Murder, and Justice examines man’s seemingly limitless capacity for evil . . . but also, his capacity for good.

“An impressive and important piece of work. I’m glad it was written, and I’m glad I read it.”—Lee Child, #1 New York Times bestselling author

“A gut-punch, hitting you broadside with such harrowing moments that you have to put the book down and take a breath.”—James Rollins, #1 New York Times bestselling author

Print length

399 pages
Language

English
Sticky notes

On Kindle Scribe
Publisher

WildBlue Press
Publication date

June 19, 2018
File size

3786 KB
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Editorial Reviews

Review

"THE CRATE is an impressive and important piece of work."
Lee Child, #1 New York Times bestselling author of the JACK REACHER Series

"Some stories are like a gut-punch, hitting you broadside with such harrowing moments that you have to put the book down and take a breath. THE CRATE is such a tale.Throughout this book, you'll find anecdotes both horrifying and uplifting,leading readers to a final resolution that feels earned, rewarding, and ultimately with a poignant sense of hope--for who we are and who we might be. Treat yourself to this journey and be transformed."
James Rollins,#1 New York Times bestseller of CRUCIBLE

"Exquisite. Haunting. Memorable."
The Jerusalem Post

"I finished THE CRATE last night, and I am overwhelmed. It is so beautifully written, so evocative. I can see why it has received so many accolades."
Jewish News of Northern California

"THE CRATE is the kind of book that you zip through because it's a true-life page-turner, but then you need time to process it all because there's so much depth. This compelling story will leave you gutted. You almost have to read this in a book club (or at least with a buddy) because there's so much you'll want to discuss afterwards."
Lori Banov Kaufman, author of REBEL DAUGHTER

"I read THE CRATE twice - and loved it both times. THE CRATE is one of those unique books that takes you on a thrilling journey through a true story, while at the same time linking it to the lived experiences of people with difficult family histories."
Marilyn Sinclair, Founder, LIBERATION75 Global Conference on the Holocaust

"Remarkable detail, very well written... this was a compelling story."
Heidi Slowinski Book Reviews

"An emotionally wrenching and riveting tale that bleeds heartfelt emotion on every page."
Providence Journal

"Levison is a gifted, insightful and evocative writer. She delivers a brilliant story."
New York Journal of Books

"Although it is her first book and she is highly ambitious in the way she weaves in and out of the various narratives, Levison pulls all of the various strands together with the deftness of an experienced novelist. Reading THE CRATE was a compelling and ultimately moving experience and should Levison turn to writing a novel, I will be most anxious to read it."
Ottawa Jewish Bulletin

"A deftly crafted and inherently riveting account from beginning to end, THE CRATE is a true story showcasing the complexities of the human experience in the face of genocidal horror and the striving for singular human justice in the face of a specific and horrific act of ultimate cruelty... very highly recommended."
Midwest Book Review

"Here is a wonderful debut, full of mystery and intrigue. This is a profound novel I could not put down."
Checking Out Chapters

"Although she is an award-winning writer in national and international media, this non-fiction book her first. This crime story is riveting as Levison entwines both the story of a murder victim that was buried on the family's lake side property in Canada and her parents' experiences during the Holocaust."
Killingly Villager

"THE CRATE is an intense read. It is not a beach book, nor a gentle summer read. It is a book to be read slowly, and gently digested. There is a lot of detail, all worth soaking up."
The New town Bee

Review

"Terror has no boundaries, not of time nor place. Levison proves that in her marvelous true crime debut, THE CRATE. THE CRATE is equal parts detective story, history lesson, and family memoir, each searing in it's own telling. A unique and important book."- James R. Benn, author of the Billy Boyle WWII mystery series

"5 Stars: THE CRATE by Deborah Levison is a true crime story that started with the discovery of a crate. THE CRATE － albeit combined with fond and poignant memories of the Vadas family － is a true crime story with disturbing details. It's a tough topic to contemplate and a grim reminder of the worst of humanity." - READERS' FAVORITE, 5 Stars  "She writes with such passion and spirit that I felt tears trickle down my cheeks. We highly recommend this story to anyone who loves true crime & stories about the Holocaust time period."
- TWO GIRLS AND A BOOK OBSESSION

"Debut author Deborah Levison tells the true story of her family's discovery of a wooden crate, nailed shut and hidden beneath their cottage. Drawing a connection... to her family's experiences in the Holocaust, THE CRATE is a sensitive portrayal of the effects of violence, emphasizing the importance of remembrance."- Vanessa Westermann, VANESSA'S PICKS  "Escaping the horrors of the Holocaust, Levison's parents nestle into a quiet cottage in Muskoka. But trauma ripples into their new life when they discover a crate hidden beneath their sanctuary. Seamless prose, profound emotional texture, and a very human voice help chronicle this unforgettable story. THE CRATE is true crime at its best."-         K.J. Howe, bestselling author of THE FREEDOM BROKER and SKYJACK
"Levison opens wide the door to her world full of memories. That is where we read of Hungarian survivors of the Shoah, of escape from oppressive regimes, of brutality and murder, but also of bravery, love and beauty. With the writing shifting between documentary and memoir, it becomes hard for the reader to put down this book. THE CRATE has one problem: sadly,it has to finish. But you can always go back and start rereading it."
-        Immanuel Mifsud, Ph.D., recipient of the European Union Prize for Literature, poet, and author of IN THE DARK NIGHT WE LOOKED
"THE CRATE combines the horror of one murder with the terror of historical mass murder. THE CRATE is a vital and necessary book that should be read as much for its historical content as for its entertainment value. Once you begin reading, this book is hard to put down. Once you are finished, it is impossible to forget."
-   Ron Winter, Pulitzer-nominated author of MASTERS OF THE ART, GRANNY SNATCHING, and THE HYPOCRITE

"In THE CRATE, Debbie Levison takes us layer by layer, into the core mystery of her story. She carefully knits the interrelationships of elements. Her description of the Nazi atrocities is often painful to read. As the story progresses, Levison digs deeper into her own emotions as well and brings them raw to the surface to share with us. In the end, THE CRATE is as informative as an investigative news report yet as intimate as a personal diary. Compelling ...first-rate ... makes us want to read."
-   Chuck Miceli, poet, playwright, and author of AMANDA'S ROOM

"Levison captured the accuracy of this real life horror. The angle of this story is one not often told. THE CRATE hands us bone-chilling facts weaved through a story of survival."
- Detective Dave Allen, Lead Investigator(Retired)

"Author Deborah Levison is a truly gifted author with a very important message to communicate through her writings. And she is an equally gifted speaker, leaving her audience members spellbound,deeply moved, and riveted to their seats. Levison has preserved through THE CRATE important stories for future generations to read."
- Al Treidel, Educator --This text refers to an alternate kindle_edition edition.

Product details

ASIN ‏ : ‎ B08B85HJ9T
Publisher ‏ : ‎ WildBlue Press (June 19, 2018)
Publication date ‏ : ‎ June 19, 2018
Language ‏ : ‎ English
File size ‏ : ‎ 3786 KB
Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Enabled
Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
Sticky notes ‏ : ‎ On Kindle Scribe
Print length ‏ : ‎ 399 pages

Best Sellers Rank: #208,518 in Kindle Store (See Top 100 in Kindle Store)
- #40 in Jewish Biographies & Memoirs
- #136 in Jewish Biographies
- #200 in Jewish History (Kindle Store)

Customer Reviews:
4.2 459 ratings

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Deborah Levison

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Debbie's life has two parts: the first in Canada, where she attended the Royal Conservatory of Music and the University of Toronto, and the second in Connecticut, where she shares a home with three children, two doodles, and one husband.

She's an award-winning writer, published in national and international media. Reviewers decribe her debut novel, A NEST OF SNAKES, as "unforgettable," "powerful," "raw," and "fresh and different." Her first book, a true crime story called THE CRATE, won seven literary awards and has been called "gorgeous and poetic," "heart wrenching," and "a brilliant story." Since its release she has given over 160 author talks, from the U.S. to Canada to the U.K. She loves connecting with audiences and readers.

Her love of storytelling began one summer night by a camp bonfire, listening to a ghost story: The Monkey's Paw. The memory still makes her shiver.

Visit her at www.debbielevison.com.

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4.2 out of 5

459 global ratings

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Lori Kaufmann

True-life Page-Turner with emotional depth

Reviewed in the United States on February 8, 2021

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I finished The Crate a few days ago but needed time to gather my thoughts before I wrote this review. The Crate is the kind of book that you zip through because it's a true-life page-turner, but then you need time to process it all because there's so much depth. The author has skillfully woven four story strands together - the mystery of a dead body turning up at her parents' summer cottage, the heart-wrenching saga of her parents' struggle for survival in war-torn Europe and their subsequent immigration to America, the background of the murdered woman, and the authors' own search for identity. There are so many weighty questions which Levison holds up to the light and examines from different angles. It's almost as if the author is asking us to go with her on her own journey of self-discovery as she tries to make sense of all that has happened.

This compelling story will leave you gutted. I had tears in my eyes as I read the scene of the author sleeping with her mother after her father's death because her mother hadn't slept alone in sixty-three years. But it's also uplifting because ultimately, Levison is able to bring all the story strands together in a way that gives her insights into her parents' past and satisfaction from understanding the sad circumstances of the murdered woman's life. By working through this unlikely chain of events, Levison understands not only what happened, but where she fits into the story. She discovers a stronger connection to her Jewish roots and her "job" as a keeper of memories.

You almost have to read this in a book club (or at least with a buddy) because there's so much you'll want to discuss afterwards!

11 people found this helpful

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macdpb

no doubt about that and thanks not just for the brilliantly told narrative of the crate and that side of ...

Reviewed in the United States on July 25, 2018

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a very well written book, no doubt about that and thanks not just for the brilliantly told narrative of the crate and that side of the story but also for sharing first hand stories of the horrors and atrocities of what happened in Nazi controlled Europe. Absolutely disgusting and we all need to be kept awake about this. I am a (Presbyterian, I think) Scot and apart from historical evidence of the Highland Clearances at the end of the 19th Century I don't have the context that Deborah clearly has wrt the subjugation of her clan, her people. On finishing the book, brilliant though it was in its writing and delivery, I did feel that I had been given a slightly one sided perspective when she writes about the contemporary and ongoing persecution of the Jewish people. What is happening now under the Israeli jackboot to the Palestinian people who are being oppressed and kept forever tormented in Gaza and the West Bank is pretty shocking as well - and is the other side of the contemporary story. I would urge Deborah to read "The General's Son" by Miko Peled. I would urge everybody to do so actually.

7 people found this helpful

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Aimee Rogers

A Memoir of One Family's Holocaust Experience and What Followed

Reviewed in the United States on November 11, 2022

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I thought that this book was going to be about the murder at the author's family's summer cottage. The mystery intrigued me. But it was her description of her parents, her brother and her family's experience of the Holocaust that really profoundly moved me. I hadn't understood the role Hungary played in the Holocaust. I do some now. I feel like this book was written to allow me to understand the intertwining of family, the Holocaust, and Hungary through this family in particular. The story told is very sad but also hopeful. It was fascinating and difficult to read at the same time. I think it's the best book I've ever read about the Holocaust. This book is incredibly well-written and easy to read.

5 people found this helpful

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skl

Unexpected Twist

Reviewed in the United States on November 5, 2018

Verified Purchase

I liked the book very much.
I cant read in depth Holocaust books anymore. Its just too gut-wrenching.
But....
This book has all the elements to make it a different type of Holocaust story.
Intertwined as one, it incorporates crime, mystery, love, honour, family and religion.
Nicely written as well.
Cant go wrong with all this.

3 people found this helpful

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Apple

Unique prespective

Reviewed in the United States on July 31, 2018

Verified Purchase

I didn't realize at first that I was reading a true story. In the first couple of chapters I was a bit confused and a little annoyed at how the author wove back and forth with excessive detail. That detail became more important as the story went on and began to see the weaving for what it was; two stories juxtaposed in time exposing the impact of horror, whether one murder or ten million, on survivors and successive generations. The survival of the author's parents is remarkable, and as the author pointed out the Holocaust did not end with the end of the World War II. The destruction and slaughter of entire towns, cities, families and communities continued in different ways for years after the wars end. Their history was made even more real, to me, as I recognized the towns and locations that were part of the authors parents flight from Communist Hungary into Austria, then onward. Layered over their story is the story of the crate, the woman in the crate, and the devastation it brought to her family, her children, her parents and to the author. The author's peace was shattered but from that disturbance came this remarkable book written with a unique perspective that draws the reader into the authors family, community and emotional turmoil as the author comes to a tentative understanding of her parents history and the woman in the crate.. Read it slowly until you can follow all of the permutations. Less than halfway through you will not be able to put it down until you reach the end.

32 people found this helpful

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Kindle Customer

A mystery

Reviewed in the United States on December 12, 2018

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The writer's family, Hungarian Holocaust survivors, have carved out a peaceful oasis at their lakeside summer cabin in Canada when a body is discovered in a crate in the cabin's crawlspace. The absolute horror of violence intruding a safe haven, and the gradual realization for the author, who had been carefully sheltered by her parents, of the extent that her family suffered, and how the mystery of the crate unfolds, is the book's focus. Like so many children, the author as a child was sensitive to subliminal influences that kept her from "troubling" her parents with events that might upset them, so she deals with shocking incidents of cruelty/anti semitism herself, without parental guidance. The book is more a family memoir than true crime, and quite well written.

9 people found this helpful

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Top reviews from other countries

Garret Berk - Novelist

A true triumph

Reviewed in Canada on September 1, 2022

Verified Purchase

Having spent many many a weekend at that cottage growing up, the novel resonated with me on very many levels. Deborah drew me back into my childhood with so much detail and accuracy that it at times was overwhelming. The holocaust depictions were so vivid that after a while I stopped using my sleeves and just put a box of facial tissues beside my reading chair. The crime story was riveting! Perhaps what struck my the most was the structure/architecture of the storytelling. It is not linear and boring. It's dynamic. Congrats!

Lois

Interesting

Reviewed in Canada on August 8, 2020

Verified Purchase

An interesting book weaving the two story lines together. My only complaint is the author’s repetition of how the discovery of the victim’s body is going to affect her (the authors) children.

Margaret Street

Intriguing story hits close to home

Reviewed in Canada on January 17, 2023

Verified Purchase

Wonderfully written weaving between plot and heartwarming family closeness. A pleasure to read. Congratulations on this novel. Looking forward to many more.

Robert Spitz

Very Emotional Read!

Reviewed in Canada on September 4, 2021

Verified Purchase

I have read this book twice now and each time discover something new I did not realize from the previous read. My parents were also Holocaust survivors so the stories told very much hit home. Personally it was a very emotional read. Knowing the family made it that much more interesting as well. I am very much looking forward to reading her next book when it becomes available.

Bob S.

Dorothy Collins fowlie

Great Book all real life

Reviewed in Canada on July 30, 2018

Verified Purchase

I found it to be very informative about the halocost and what the people went through and to learn of the authors family. A couple of the things regarding the girl that was murdered were a little inaccurate how her and her murderer met and regarding being abused by a boyfriend of her mothers it wasn’t a boyfriend it was a family member and it was taken care of I know this because I’m her mother but the author wrote a very great book overall. I’m going to Reread it to see what I missed. Rated A++

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