The Sketch Artist

The Sketch Artist, a historical novel by Randy Young (5-stars, Reedsy), is the spellbinding journey of a gifted American artist who puts her career and life on the line years after witnessing the atrocities of a Nazi concentration camp. Steeped in suspense, art culture and self-discovery, this propulsive story transitions to New York City and New Jersey as the artist turns iron-willed sleuth determined to bring to justice the death camp leader who, astonishingly, has become an admired and powerful public figure.After World War II, the commandant of a notorious Nazi concentration camp worms his way into the United States to become the Mayor of Paterson, New Jersey. Just as incredulous is the story of the woman fiercely set on bringing him to justice: Sophia Van Houten, a sketch artist with the USO on the German front lines. In the closing days of the war, she witnesses firsthand the slaughter that occurred in the first concentration camp liberated by the Allies, at Ohrdruf. Years later, as an abstract artist in New York City, she relentlessly pursues the former commandant with the blood of thousands on his hands. When Sophia hits wall after wall, the cudgel is taken up by her son, who attempts to derail the campaign of the commandant’s son as he runs for governor of New Jersey on the coattails of his father.