When the protagonist wavers about exacting vengeance, I was reminded of Hamlet and his father's ghost. We are left wondering whether or not the American would have acted if his hand had not been forced by the ex-SS officer.

Ghosts of Yesterday was good but I think it faltered a bit under the weight of its anti-death penalty message. It seemed as if the writer wanted to have it both ways; the death penalty is immoral but life in prison is a worse fate anyway for the criminal. I think that is something of a cop-out. If prison is preferred by the criminal over death, is it still better to opt for incarceration? The writer avoids the question by having the Nazi seek death. That struck me as too contrived.

I was actually beginning to think the Nazi was a victim of mistaken identity; it would have been interesting if she had shot him only to find out later that he was not the SS officer.

Anyone remember the Barney Miller episode about the toy dealer who was an ex-Nazi? 