‘Blood Enemy’ by Douglas Jackson

Published by Canelo,
9 July 2026.
ISBN: 978-1-80436748-3 (HB)

I previously read and reviewed Blood Roses which deals with the Nazis entry to Warsaw in 1939 and introduces us to the former chief investigator Jan Kalisz. 

Blood Enemy is the final in the series and is the story of Jan Kalisz's further life as a double agent forced to work with the occupiers as he gathers information for the Polish resistance.  He is unable to explain to his family of wife - Maria and teenage son Stefan - his true allegiances. 

This is a fast-paced novel dealing with extremely dark incidences which occurred in Warsaw towards the end of the occupation in 1944.  Frankly I found some of the descriptions of the cruelty and horrors of this period difficult to read.  The author has clearly done an enormous amount of research into this period of history and the writing is superb. 

The main character Jan Kalisz is a formidable hero, and one is rooting for him to the very end.  I found the descriptions of his temporary incarceration in Auschwitz/Birkenau horrifying and entirely believable.  His description of meeting Josef Mengele was equally authentic and disturbing. 

This novel is not an easy read and its ambition and intelligence rescue it from being a miserable reading experience.  Many readers, like myself, will be aware of the horrors of the Holocaust but probably unaware of the suffering of the Polish people during the War years and the fear of the future which was represented by the Soviet Army. 

I can strongly recommend this book to fans of Robert Harris and to broaden awareness of events of World War 2.  
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Reviewer: Toni Russell 

Douglas Jackson is the author of seventeen historical novels and mystery thrillers published by Transworld/PRH, including the critically acclaimed nine-book Hero of Rome series. He was born in Jedburgh in the Scottish Borders and now lives in Stirling. Originally a journalist by profession he rose to become Assistant Editor of The Scotsman before leaving to be a full-time writer in 2009.  

Toni Russell is a retired teacher who has lived in London all her life and loves the city.  She says, ‘I enjoy museums, galleries and the theatre but probably my favourite pastime is reading.  I found myself reading detective fiction almost for the first time during lockdown and have particularly enjoyed old fashioned detective fiction rather than the nordic noir variety.  I am a member of a book club at the local library and have previously attended literature classes at our local Adult Education Centre.