“A fascinating historical drama … explores timeless themes of religion, family, and societal expectations.” — Kirkus Reviews
“Jonathan Bockian’s What Was Forbidden is a masterfully woven tale of love, loss, ideology, and resilience … a gripping literary mystery that explores not only who committed the crime—but why society might wish it were left unsolved … The historical grounding is impeccable … [Mordechai’s] story asks powerful questions about identity, freedom, and the cost of truth in a world unwilling to accept it. But it is Yehudit’s arc that gives the novel its emotional weight. Her quiet grief, her refusal to be silenced by the men around her, and her courage to confront the hypocrisy within her own community create a deeply compelling portrait of feminine strength in a patriarchal age … Bockian does not offer easy answers; instead, he forces readers to wrestle with moral ambiguity and the cost of justice when justice itself is inconvenient … With beautiful prose, richly developed characters, and thought-provoking themes, What Was Forbidden is both a mystery and a meditation on freedom, faith, and the struggle between progress and tradition. It will resonate with fans of historical fiction, literary mysteries, and stories that examine the enduring tension between private truth and public silence … Bockian’s debut is as intellectually stimulating as it is emotionally engaging—a literary triumph that lingers long after the final page.” — Review Tales
“… captivating … A gripping, erudite historical novel….” — Michele Sharpe, Forward Reviews
“Bockian’s Ghetto is enlivened by his research, rich sensory descriptions, and complex characters…”
— DeWitt Henry, award winning author, founder of Ploughshares literary magazine.“A terrific novel … immensely literate, historically accurate.”
— Rabbi Lawrence Kushner, author of over a dozen books on Jewish mysticism and the novel Kabbalah: a Love Story.“… tensely rendered, with flowing prose; well-researched historically, with characters that feel rounded and in whom you are invested … A great historical fiction read.” — Discovery
Short-Listed for the 2025 Leapfrog Global Fiction Prize
What Was Forbidden 