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godollin's review
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
katecks's review
4.0
Love this series and I really hope it doesn't end here as I'd love to know what happens to Karin next. I took one star off as I felt the plot was a bit Deus Ex Machina at times and predictable. Nevertheless the characters are very well drawn and consistent with the previous books in this series. I look forward to reading more from this author and he is definitely an authority on the history of the former GDR.
cybergoths's review
4.0
The final (for now) Karin Müller story sees her drawn into a murder investigation in Dresden which uncovers links back to the firebombing of the city during the Second World War. Demoted after the outcome previous story, she is increasingly disillusioned with the way that the DDR is being run. Tensions raise between the Stasi and MI6 as Müller's team become pawns between the intelligence agencies. I enjoyed this but there are elements in the final denouement that didn't seem to make any sense. Fortunately, they don't undermine the story and could be written off to someone taking an irrational emotional judgement at the last moment.
alinacanda's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
seanbyrne92's review
5.0
Firstly thanks to NetGalley and Bonnier Books UK for the ARC of Stasi Game by David Young. I love the Karin Muller series, to the point where I have been ranting and raving about the series on Twitter / Readers First.
Dresden, East Germany, 1980 (its been a year or two since the events of Stasi Winter for Karin Muller and Werner Tilsner) and a man's body is found buried in concrete at a building site in the new town district. Muller is called to the scene and finds the body has some unidentifiable features that will make the investigation all that more difficult.
Muller finds she is up against her foes in the Ministry of the State officials - Stasi officers in the local office and Stasi officer Jager is back to interrupt Muller and her team.
We are introduced to Lotti Rolf and Arnold Southwick as we are dragged back to the 1930's as the two teenagers meet at a holiday camp whilst Arnold is visting with his family from the UK. Lotti is immediately besotted with Arnold - a young teenage love before Arnold and his family cut their holiday short and return back to Hull in the United Kingdom.
Arnold & Lotti begin a penpal relationship from the UK/Germany as the war rages throughout Germany & UK with bombings in Arnold's and Lotti's home towns. Lotti and Arnold become emotionally and physically scarred by the effects of the war and how it shapes their future.
Muller, now faced with the task of teaming up with Tilsner again - even though she doesnt fully trust him after uncovering the truths about his involvement as a Hitler youth few years back.
Karin and the team battle through the political minefield that the Stasi have set up for her to try and solve the case of the body found in the cement,.
I thoroughly enjoyed Stasi Game - the surroundings, the characters involved and the case itself set up the story for a worthwhile conclusion and hopefully not the end of the series.
Dresden, East Germany, 1980 (its been a year or two since the events of Stasi Winter for Karin Muller and Werner Tilsner) and a man's body is found buried in concrete at a building site in the new town district. Muller is called to the scene and finds the body has some unidentifiable features that will make the investigation all that more difficult.
Muller finds she is up against her foes in the Ministry of the State officials - Stasi officers in the local office and Stasi officer Jager is back to interrupt Muller and her team.
We are introduced to Lotti Rolf and Arnold Southwick as we are dragged back to the 1930's as the two teenagers meet at a holiday camp whilst Arnold is visting with his family from the UK. Lotti is immediately besotted with Arnold - a young teenage love before Arnold and his family cut their holiday short and return back to Hull in the United Kingdom.
Arnold & Lotti begin a penpal relationship from the UK/Germany as the war rages throughout Germany & UK with bombings in Arnold's and Lotti's home towns. Lotti and Arnold become emotionally and physically scarred by the effects of the war and how it shapes their future.
Muller, now faced with the task of teaming up with Tilsner again - even though she doesnt fully trust him after uncovering the truths about his involvement as a Hitler youth few years back.
Karin and the team battle through the political minefield that the Stasi have set up for her to try and solve the case of the body found in the cement,.
I thoroughly enjoyed Stasi Game - the surroundings, the characters involved and the case itself set up the story for a worthwhile conclusion and hopefully not the end of the series.
readsbyem_'s review
3.0
Thank you to the publishers, Zaffre Books, for sending me a copy of this to read!
3.5 stars.
Historical Fiction has a way of pulling you in to another time period entirely, Young managed to transport me to several different locations across different time periods within this novel, something I rather enjoyed. His ability to create a scene around you as you read was commendable, as was the rich detail of the main character, Karin Müller.
The plot was mostly fast-paced and a page-turner, however with the frequent time jumps and short chapters, I found myself wishing that we stuck with a certain character or event a little longer. There was a disconnect for the first half of the book that made me feel as if we weren't getting to know any of the characters in detail, it was a lot of jumping back and forth in quick succession. Thankfully, the second half of the book felt more interlinked, the pieces of the puzzle were starting to connect and as a reader, it was exciting to see how everything lined up.
Overall, it read well and kept me entertained whilst I was reading. For fans of Historical Fiction, particularly espionage and secret service Historical Fiction, I recommend this one!
3.5 stars.
Historical Fiction has a way of pulling you in to another time period entirely, Young managed to transport me to several different locations across different time periods within this novel, something I rather enjoyed. His ability to create a scene around you as you read was commendable, as was the rich detail of the main character, Karin Müller.
The plot was mostly fast-paced and a page-turner, however with the frequent time jumps and short chapters, I found myself wishing that we stuck with a certain character or event a little longer. There was a disconnect for the first half of the book that made me feel as if we weren't getting to know any of the characters in detail, it was a lot of jumping back and forth in quick succession. Thankfully, the second half of the book felt more interlinked, the pieces of the puzzle were starting to connect and as a reader, it was exciting to see how everything lined up.
Overall, it read well and kept me entertained whilst I was reading. For fans of Historical Fiction, particularly espionage and secret service Historical Fiction, I recommend this one!
readsbyeden's review
3.0
Thank you to the publishers, Zaffre Books, for sending me a copy of this to read!
3.5 stars.
Historical Fiction has a way of pulling you in to another time period entirely, Young managed to transport me to several different locations across different time periods within this novel, something I rather enjoyed. His ability to create a scene around you as you read was commendable, as was the rich detail of the main character, Karin Müller.
The plot was mostly fast-paced and a page-turner, however with the frequent time jumps and short chapters, I found myself wishing that we stuck with a certain character or event a little longer. There was a disconnect for the first half of the book that made me feel as if we weren't getting to know any of the characters in detail, it was a lot of jumping back and forth in quick succession. Thankfully, the second half of the book felt more interlinked, the pieces of the puzzle were starting to connect and as a reader, it was exciting to see how everything lined up.
Overall, it read well and kept me entertained whilst I was reading. For fans of Historical Fiction, particularly espionage and secret service Historical Fiction, I recommend this one!
3.5 stars.
Historical Fiction has a way of pulling you in to another time period entirely, Young managed to transport me to several different locations across different time periods within this novel, something I rather enjoyed. His ability to create a scene around you as you read was commendable, as was the rich detail of the main character, Karin Müller.
The plot was mostly fast-paced and a page-turner, however with the frequent time jumps and short chapters, I found myself wishing that we stuck with a certain character or event a little longer. There was a disconnect for the first half of the book that made me feel as if we weren't getting to know any of the characters in detail, it was a lot of jumping back and forth in quick succession. Thankfully, the second half of the book felt more interlinked, the pieces of the puzzle were starting to connect and as a reader, it was exciting to see how everything lined up.
Overall, it read well and kept me entertained whilst I was reading. For fans of Historical Fiction, particularly espionage and secret service Historical Fiction, I recommend this one!
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