Broken Jewel

By: David Robbins

Narrated by: George Guidall

New York Times best-selling author David L. Robbins has entrenched himself as the master of the World War II novel. Telling the gripping story of the 1945 rescue of allied prisoners from the Los Baños camp near Manila, Broken Jewel received tremendous critical acclaim, including starred reviews from Library Journal and Kirkus Reviews.

©2009 David L. Robbins (P)2010 Recorded Books, LLC

Critic reviews

"Robbins's ninth novel, the best WWII Pacific campaign novel in a long time, tells the dramatic story of the 1945 rescue of 2,100 American and allied prisoners from the Los Baños camp near Manila. Middle-aged gambler Remy Tuck and his teenage son, Talbot, have been civilian prisoners since the Philippines fell to the Japanese in 1942. Packed into the miserable Los Baños, where the Japanese starve, beat, abuse and murder the prisoners, Remy and Talbot use their wits and courage to survive. Across the camp, Carmen is a young Filipina woman forced to be a sex slave for Japanese soldiers. She and Talbot forge a relationship via long-distance glances through barbed wire. Once the Americans invade the Philippines and plan a daring mission to rescue the prisoners from certain death, Remy, Talbot and Carmen risk their lives to aid the paratroopers coming to their rescue, though bad luck, homicidal guards and stray bullets nearly do them in. This is a terrific story of the triumph of the human spirit, loaded with suspense, historical accuracy and fast-paced action." ( Publishers Weekly)

A rich story, exciting and well told!

This is a great story, rich and exciting and well told. I felt like I was right there in the camp with all the characters. George Guidall's reading is very dramatic. I loved this audiobook, 5 stars.

A rich story, exciting and well told!

This is a great story, rich and exciting and well told. I felt like I was right there in the camp with all the characters. George Guidall's reading is very dramatic. I loved this audiobook, 5 stars.

Story of Human Endurance and Triumph

This is a novel that retells the story of the interns of the Los Banos (Philipines) Japanese prisoner of war camp. It is a fictional account of an historic time and place during WWII. In this story, the cruelty of the Japanese when at war is front and center, but in addition, small acts of kindness by a select few Japanese are also documented. Americans, Brits, Aussies and others imprisoned in the camp are characters in the story whose ability to endure and triumph over starvation, abuse and other evil is an amazing feat. Historically accurate, the story tells of how American Airborne troops, Filipino guerrillas and a father and son from the camp work together to free the 2000 prisoners before the Japanese commandant orders their mass execution. It also relates the experiences of Filipino girls and women who were enslaved as comfort women. It goes without saying that George Guidall's performance is once again extraordinary. He gives voice and life to a range of characters in a plethora of accents and intonations that engage listeners completely.