Scan barcode
dmcke013's review against another edition
4.0
To be honest, crime fiction is not my usual genre of choice.
I also tend to find 'book club picks' to be rather off-putting; generally finding those I have previously read to be rather tedious and just not generally all that interesting (while able to admire the literary sophistication of the works).
This is both a crime fiction novel, and a 'Richard and Judy book club pick', so that would - normally - have been 2 marks against picking it up, in my books.
However, I have read - and generally quite enjoyed - most, if not all, of [a:Simon Scarrow|60636|Simon Scarrow|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1240832197p2/60636.jpg]'s other works - in particular his Cato and Macro series - so, when I saw this on a Kindle deal for something like 99p, I thought to myself 'why not?'.
And, I have to admit, I did actually quite enjoy this.
Set in 1939 Berlin just at the start of WW2, I found this to be unusual in that it told the story from the Point of View of a German criminal inspector - most WW2 novels (that I am aware of) usually feature either American or Brits as their main protagonists - who is not a member of the Nazi party: a fact that, here, is usually held against him but is also the reason he got handed the assignment as he has no links to any factions within the party.
It's both a very different time and 'headspace' than modern sensibilities; interesting to see how the man-on-the-street could have viewed the headline events of the time. As someone from Northern Ireland, there's also aspects of the novel that hit frighteningly close to home for me ...
I also tend to find 'book club picks' to be rather off-putting; generally finding those I have previously read to be rather tedious and just not generally all that interesting (while able to admire the literary sophistication of the works).
This is both a crime fiction novel, and a 'Richard and Judy book club pick', so that would - normally - have been 2 marks against picking it up, in my books.
However, I have read - and generally quite enjoyed - most, if not all, of [a:Simon Scarrow|60636|Simon Scarrow|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1240832197p2/60636.jpg]'s other works - in particular his Cato and Macro series - so, when I saw this on a Kindle deal for something like 99p, I thought to myself 'why not?'.
And, I have to admit, I did actually quite enjoy this.
Set in 1939 Berlin just at the start of WW2, I found this to be unusual in that it told the story from the Point of View of a German criminal inspector - most WW2 novels (that I am aware of) usually feature either American or Brits as their main protagonists - who is not a member of the Nazi party: a fact that, here, is usually held against him but is also the reason he got handed the assignment as he has no links to any factions within the party.
It's both a very different time and 'headspace' than modern sensibilities; interesting to see how the man-on-the-street could have viewed the headline events of the time. As someone from Northern Ireland, there's also aspects of the novel that hit frighteningly close to home for me ...
pvbobrien's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
ljm57's review against another edition
4.0
Atmospheric murder mystery set in Berlin in the cold depths of winter, 1939 with WWII in its infancy. This thriller charts the rise of Himmler’s brutal Gestapo as it became dominant, its sinister tentacles reaching into every aspect of German life. Into this mix comes the wonderful protagonist Criminal Inspector Horst Schenke assigned to investigate the murder of Goebbels’ ex-mistress. His single-minded concentration on the fair and equal application of justice no matter who is involved and an unwillingness to become involved in the Nazi politics gripping the Reich’s Main Security Office, the fountainhead of all legal matters, make him an ideal fall-guy for those in the organisation with something to hide. This is a gripping work of crime fiction that captures time, place and prevailing attitudes perfectly. Also very readable and authentic.
daja57's review against another edition
4.0
A serial killer is at lose in Berlin in the middle of a snow-bound December in 1939, as the Nazi party tightens its grip on power. Inspector Horst Schenke of the Kriminal Polizei is assigned the case by a senior Gestapo official: does the Party have something to hide? And what is the involvement of the Abwehr, the MI6 of the Reich?
A classic murder mystery with plenty of thriller action and a wonderfully literal Gestapo officer who reminded me of Jasper de Zoet in Utopia Avenue.
A classic murder mystery with plenty of thriller action and a wonderfully literal Gestapo officer who reminded me of Jasper de Zoet in Utopia Avenue.
sfmike2000's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
hnorth92's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
sslovesbooks_1's review against another edition
4.0
This was a tense chase to catch a serial killer in Nazi Germany in the weeks before Christmas. Freezing cold setting, brilliant criminal inspector and a few surprises along the way.
I love that the author is writing more books covering schenke’s life and cases through the 1930s. Can’t wait.
I love that the author is writing more books covering schenke’s life and cases through the 1930s. Can’t wait.
coronationcorgi's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
ccotter124's review against another edition
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
gagnedouze's review against another edition
5.0
An excellent and entertaining thriller from Simon Scarrow. I am fascinated with everything related to WW2 and the setting is slightly different to the norm, so I was excited to start this.
Set just before Christmas, in the deep winter freeze of 1939 - 3 months after the invasion of Poland - Berliners believe the war will be over soon and peace restored, however, the capital is under a blackout. A perfect time for crime.
We meet the Kripo inspector, Horst Schenke and his mission is to find the killer of a party official's wife. This would be difficult in normal times but Berlin is blacked out and political implications are rife. Schenke is not a Nazi Party member and he dodges suspicions perilously as he tries to solve the case. Then a second murder takes place, eerily similar to the first. Are they linked? Chief of the Gestapo, Muller, has ordered Schenke to stop the murders before they can even think about having a Christmas.
Highly recommended.
Set just before Christmas, in the deep winter freeze of 1939 - 3 months after the invasion of Poland - Berliners believe the war will be over soon and peace restored, however, the capital is under a blackout. A perfect time for crime.
We meet the Kripo inspector, Horst Schenke and his mission is to find the killer of a party official's wife. This would be difficult in normal times but Berlin is blacked out and political implications are rife. Schenke is not a Nazi Party member and he dodges suspicions perilously as he tries to solve the case. Then a second murder takes place, eerily similar to the first. Are they linked? Chief of the Gestapo, Muller, has ordered Schenke to stop the murders before they can even think about having a Christmas.
Highly recommended.