When Ofer Lavi inherits his mother’s childhood home in a neglected neighborhood in the heart of Stuttgart, he sees it as a golden real estate opportunity. To realize his vision, he must acquire the four surrounding houses. But the quiet street and abandoned homes hide far more than the decay of time.
During negotiations with the neighbors, Ofer meets Eva – the beautiful and enigmatic heiress of one of the houses. Their relationship pulls him into an emotional whirlwind where love, heartbreak, and secrets from the past collide.
The residents of the neighborhood, descendants of French idealists who immigrated to Germany after World War I, once faced a painful divide between their French identity and the rising power of Nazi Germany. Their hidden stories linger in the walls, but House No. 1 harbors the darkest secret of all – a secret born in the horrors of World War II that still casts its shadow on the present.
As Ofer’s bond with Eva deepens and his project advances, he is drawn further into the haunting mysteries of the past. However, the shocking truth about his own family and the history of “The French Corner” will test his ambitions and love for Eva.
The Secrets of House No. 1 is a powerful novel about legacy, family secrets, an unexpected romance, and the unshakable ties between past and present.
Ofer Lavi, a real estate developer, inherits his mother’s childhood home in a neglected Stuttgart neighborhood. The project he envisions promises financial stability but comes at a cost: separation from his family and confronting painful memories of the past.
To realize his plans, Ofer must purchase the four surrounding houses. In House No. 5, his mother’s childhood friend gives him a box of letters, leading to a shocking discovery: Ofer’s estranged older brother, Edi, is the biological son of a decorated Nazi officer. Struggling with the weight of this truth, Ofer postpones an inevitable confrontation with his brother in Canada.
When Eva, the heir to House No. 2 and a doctor in Germany, arrives to finalize the sale, their initial suspicion transforms into a passionate romance. Yet, as the acquisitions progress, it becomes clear that House No. 1 harbors the darkest secret of all: Its heir, the enigmatic “Mr. Gold,” is none other than the Nazi who betrayed his neighbors and stole priceless treasures during the war. Masquerading under a false Jewish identity, Gold leads a dangerous neo-Nazi organization with a singular mission: to rebuild the Third Reich.
Ofer’s journey to Canada becomes a deadly trap. Amid revelations of betrayal—his wife’s affair, Eva’s pregnancy, and his brother’s apparent ties to the organization—Ofer discovers a far-reaching conspiracy: an assassination plot against the Israeli Prime Minister during a visit to the Jewish community.
With the help of his new partner from House No. 4, a French security officer, his beloved Eva, and his brother—revealed to be a Mossad agent—Ofer races against time to dismantle the plot and save countless lives.
When the dust settles, Ofer must face his own shattered world: Eva has chosen to raise their son alone, far from him. But with his brother’s unexpected help, Ofer embarks on one final journey—to find Eva and reclaim the love he thought he had lost.
The Secrets of House No. 1 is a gripping novel of family secrets, unexpected love, and the relentless struggle between past and present, betrayal and redemption.
