charliechan21's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
4.5
softskiez's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
informative
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
jmatkinson1's review against another edition
4.0
Berlin, winter 1939 and, as the country goes to war, the nights are long and dark. When the wife of a prominent Nazi lawyer is found dead, the Kripo are called to investigate but the Gestapo want to keep a close eye on the case. It soon becomes clear that the woman is just one victim of a serial killer stalking the railways of Berlin but it takes a renegade detective and a Jewish woman to ensure some kind of justice.
This book made a great change from Scarrow's 'sword and sandals' epics and I really liked the wartime detective perspective from the viewpoint of normal Germans living through the Nazi regime. There are lots of political points made in the narrative and in the characters but they were not too overplayed and the plot was twisty and clever. As a quick read this was very enjoyable
This book made a great change from Scarrow's 'sword and sandals' epics and I really liked the wartime detective perspective from the viewpoint of normal Germans living through the Nazi regime. There are lots of political points made in the narrative and in the characters but they were not too overplayed and the plot was twisty and clever. As a quick read this was very enjoyable
sslovesbooks'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.
mollyctoone's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
I would not normally give any score over a 3⭐ for a book where I guessed "whodunnit" but this still deserves an extra one.
historic_chronicles's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
In December, 1939 as Berlin is enveloped in one of its harshest winters and a blackout is in order, a murderer is on the loose...
Inspector Horst Schenke of the Pankow Kripo Section is suddenly summoned by the head of the Gestapo to take over the case of a murdered movie star. Seemingly a routine case, Schenke soon becomes aware that he was chosen for political reasons and now must navigate politics, deception and corruption in order to catch a murderer who uses the blackout as the perfect backdrop to his hunting ground.
Scarrow is a fine storyteller. This was a gripping, edge-of-your seat prose as the tension rose and the atmosphere became deadly.
The political drama of wartime Berlin post-invasion of Poland is depicted excellently with an emphasis on the bleak, dark and gritty surroundings that the characters live in.
The clear influence and paranoia that the Nazi Party held in the daily workings of regular forces such as the Police along with the building pressure to join the party or the consequences of refusal was thrilling, yet disturbing to read and I found it felt claustrophobic at times to see the perspective of Schenke as he tried to navigate his way through this on a daily basis.
An excellent novel, I have already got my hands on a copy of the sequel and cannot wait to read more of Inspector Schenke's exploits.
Inspector Horst Schenke of the Pankow Kripo Section is suddenly summoned by the head of the Gestapo to take over the case of a murdered movie star. Seemingly a routine case, Schenke soon becomes aware that he was chosen for political reasons and now must navigate politics, deception and corruption in order to catch a murderer who uses the blackout as the perfect backdrop to his hunting ground.
Scarrow is a fine storyteller. This was a gripping, edge-of-your seat prose as the tension rose and the atmosphere became deadly.
The political drama of wartime Berlin post-invasion of Poland is depicted excellently with an emphasis on the bleak, dark and gritty surroundings that the characters live in.
The clear influence and paranoia that the Nazi Party held in the daily workings of regular forces such as the Police along with the building pressure to join the party or the consequences of refusal was thrilling, yet disturbing to read and I found it felt claustrophobic at times to see the perspective of Schenke as he tried to navigate his way through this on a daily basis.
An excellent novel, I have already got my hands on a copy of the sequel and cannot wait to read more of Inspector Schenke's exploits.
agneshenriksson's review against another edition
dark
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
4.5