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khaosklaud's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
Ciekawa książka z szokującymi scenami. Fajny i niespodziewany zwrot akcji.
ridgewaygirl's review against another edition
3.0
Set in what is now Wroclaw, Poland, Death in Breslau takes place in 1934, when it was a German city near the border. Two women, a member of German nobility and her companion, are found on a train, eviscerated, scorpions found on and around the bodies. A conductor is found killed by three scorpion stings. Inspector Mock is sent to find the murderer. He quickly finds the obvious suspect, a Jewish epileptic pet store owner. Before he can bring the man in for questioning, the man is taken and tortured to death by the Gestapo, a group Mock has no control over. Still, the case is closed, until it becomes obvious that the pet store owner was not the murderer. Since Mock is now tainted by the incident, a police officer from Berlin, Herbert Anwaldt is sent to lead a new investigation.
Death in Breslau is one weird story. The odd murder weapons (scorpions) are the most straightforward part of this convoluted tale involving everything from the Crusades, to brothels, to the constant need to maneuver around the Gestapo and their allies. Mock may be a rotund, middle-aged man with a love of German cuisine, but he's far from simple, and his continuing survival in his position is largely due to how he manages to out-think and out-manipulate those around him. Anwaldt is an interesting character as well; an alcoholic being given one last chance to prove himself in the provinces, he's constantly haunted by his past as a fatherless boy making his way through orphanages and harsh Catholic schools. No one is entirely good, but there are plenty of people who are entirely evil. All in all, this was an odd, but rewarding book.
Death in Breslau is one weird story. The odd murder weapons (scorpions) are the most straightforward part of this convoluted tale involving everything from the Crusades, to brothels, to the constant need to maneuver around the Gestapo and their allies. Mock may be a rotund, middle-aged man with a love of German cuisine, but he's far from simple, and his continuing survival in his position is largely due to how he manages to out-think and out-manipulate those around him. Anwaldt is an interesting character as well; an alcoholic being given one last chance to prove himself in the provinces, he's constantly haunted by his past as a fatherless boy making his way through orphanages and harsh Catholic schools. No one is entirely good, but there are plenty of people who are entirely evil. All in all, this was an odd, but rewarding book.
constantreader471's review against another edition
5.0
I enjoyed reading this book and give it 4.5 stars(rounded up to 5). Eberhard Mock is a Police Inspector in Breslau, Germany in 1933(present day Wroclaw,Poland). He is called to the scene of 2 horrific murders. Two women have been horribly mutilated and 1 of them is the daughter of very powerful man, Baron Von Malten. Mock is between a rock and a hard place, as solving the murders means antagonizing the Gestapo and not solving them means that the Baron will betray him to the Gestapo.
The plot moves along swiftly, move and counter move between Mock and the Gestapo. The torture scenes are very gruesome. There are vivid descriptions of the squalid corruption in the city.
The author bio identifies him as a former lecturer in Classical Studies at the University of Wroclaw. There are Latin and Greek phrases scattered throughout the book. I liked the ending. This book was originally written in Polish. The translation is very good.
The plot moves along swiftly, move and counter move between Mock and the Gestapo. The torture scenes are very gruesome. There are vivid descriptions of the squalid corruption in the city.
The author bio identifies him as a former lecturer in Classical Studies at the University of Wroclaw. There are Latin and Greek phrases scattered throughout the book. I liked the ending. This book was originally written in Polish. The translation is very good.
fxp's review against another edition
2.0
DNF. I gave up at page 100.
I chose this book because it's set in Breslau, but you don't actually learn all too much about the city. It is interesting to get an idea of the atmosphere around the time when the Nazis rose to power.
I didn't care for the writing style. I lost track of all the characters involved, and the protagonist (policeman Mock) seemed a bit too flat with his visiting brothels, endorsing violence, and always having a way to blackmail his colleagues or opponents. I found myself not enjoying reading this story, so I stopped.
I chose this book because it's set in Breslau, but you don't actually learn all too much about the city. It is interesting to get an idea of the atmosphere around the time when the Nazis rose to power.
I didn't care for the writing style. I lost track of all the characters involved, and the protagonist (policeman Mock) seemed a bit too flat with his visiting brothels, endorsing violence, and always having a way to blackmail his colleagues or opponents. I found myself not enjoying reading this story, so I stopped.
berlinda52's review against another edition
3.0
I am reading it in English, of course - 'Death in Breslau'. I bought in in Krakow when I finished my previous book while on holiday. A somewhat wacky book, set in 1933, while Breslau was German. Definitely tries to reflect the flavor of living in the Third Reich while solving a murder mystery.
chceswieta's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
kurwaczytaj's review against another edition
3.0
První díl této série mi připomněl Mlýn na mumie. Odehrává se kolem Noci dlouhých nožů v Polsku nyní již zabraném Němci. Uznávaný polský detektiv se nyní musí potýkat nejen s politickými tlaky ale i s tím, že mu vyšetřování komplikuje i mocenský boj mezi různými složkami nacistické mocenské mašinérie. Jinak zde najdeme podobné rekvizity a lokace jako v Mlýně: luxusní bordely, temná rodinná tajemství, pomstu z dávných věků a daleké země, zákulisní boje, tajné společnosti, tajné agenty, komplikované a teatrální vraždy.
Sem tam trochu teatrální, sem tam malinko přibarvená fakta ale celkově děj plyne slušným tempem a čtenář se dobře baví. Jednoduše mírný nadprůměr.
Sem tam trochu teatrální, sem tam malinko přibarvená fakta ale celkově děj plyne slušným tempem a čtenář se dobře baví. Jednoduše mírný nadprůměr.
octygon's review against another edition
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
0.5
I loathed this book. There was not a single likable character in here. The writing was terrible. The translation was abysmal. I probably would have given it one star just for the poor writing but the content made it even worse. Every page is more torture, violence, abuse. The violence against and general contempt for women was overwhelming. I know many of the characters were Nazis, so they are supposed to be terrible men, but the main characters showed the same contempt for women, Jews, and any other minority. It was so prevalent, it felt like the author was getting off on the exploitation. The whole book was distasteful and very difficult to read.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Gore, Pedophilia, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Police brutality, Antisemitism, Religious bigotry, and Murder
ewatx's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5