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belanna2's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
4.0
ericfheiman's review against another edition
2.0
For me, the appeal of Philip Kerr's Bernie Gunther series is that it positions gumshoe existential angst against the backdrop of Nazi Germany. The murky moral ambiguities that often clouded classic Raymond Chandler or James Ellroy works are amplified by the horrific hindsight we have of this dark chapter in our history. As a bonus, these detective yarns also interweave true events from the time period, most of which only erudite Third Reich scholars would be aware. It’s the most fun you’ll ever have in history class.
So it’s disappointing that The Other Side of Silence focuses more on the postwar spying and espionage games between the Soviet Union and the West. While Kerr is always compulsively readable and there are some satisfying turns of phrase Sam Spade only wishes he could've spoken, this book ends up being barely John LeCarré-lite. Leave the spy novels to the pros, Philip.
So it’s disappointing that The Other Side of Silence focuses more on the postwar spying and espionage games between the Soviet Union and the West. While Kerr is always compulsively readable and there are some satisfying turns of phrase Sam Spade only wishes he could've spoken, this book ends up being barely John LeCarré-lite. Leave the spy novels to the pros, Philip.
jacki_f's review against another edition
4.0
This is the eleventh book in Philip Kerr's terrific series featuring Bernie Gunther, whom we initially met as a highly jaded policeman in 1930s Berlin who despised the Nazi regime. The subsequent books in the series jumped around in time, and gradually we have learned about Gunther's actions during the 2nd World War and life afterwards in Argentina, Cuba and in this novel, the South of France.
It's 1956 and Gunther is working as a hotel concierge on the French Riviera under an assumed name. His wife has left him, he is lonely and world weary. One day a figure from his past turns up at the hotel. Harold Hennig is a man whom Gunther has reason to hate, and he is about to give Gunther another reason, as it is apparent that he is involved in a scheme to blackmail local resident and celebrated author Somerset Maugham. Gunther is asked to help Maugham, but gradually it will become apparent that things are a lot more complicated than they initially appear.
Unlike the other books in this series, this one doesn't centre on WW2. Although some events from that time are referred to, the central plot is about the Cold War and the Cambridge Spy Ring in England. As usual, Kerr has woven many real life people and events into the story and also includes a postscript to tell us what became of them all.
If you're new to Philip Kerr, I highly recommend this series. It jumps about in chronology so you don't need to read them in order, but I wouldn't recommend this as the best book to begin with. (I started with "If the Dead Rise Not", but the Berlin Noir trilogy would probably be the best starting place and after that you could jump around at will). The books are noir-esque mysteries with a very strong sence of time and place. I was delighted to see in the postscript that Bernie Gunther will return in another book due in 2017.
It's 1956 and Gunther is working as a hotel concierge on the French Riviera under an assumed name. His wife has left him, he is lonely and world weary. One day a figure from his past turns up at the hotel. Harold Hennig is a man whom Gunther has reason to hate, and he is about to give Gunther another reason, as it is apparent that he is involved in a scheme to blackmail local resident and celebrated author Somerset Maugham. Gunther is asked to help Maugham, but gradually it will become apparent that things are a lot more complicated than they initially appear.
Unlike the other books in this series, this one doesn't centre on WW2. Although some events from that time are referred to, the central plot is about the Cold War and the Cambridge Spy Ring in England. As usual, Kerr has woven many real life people and events into the story and also includes a postscript to tell us what became of them all.
If you're new to Philip Kerr, I highly recommend this series. It jumps about in chronology so you don't need to read them in order, but I wouldn't recommend this as the best book to begin with. (I started with "If the Dead Rise Not", but the Berlin Noir trilogy would probably be the best starting place and after that you could jump around at will). The books are noir-esque mysteries with a very strong sence of time and place. I was delighted to see in the postscript that Bernie Gunther will return in another book due in 2017.
tomfairfax's review against another edition
4.0
Excellent addition to the Bernie Gunther series once again chock full of real people and forgotten horrors of the 20th century. It's a good page-turner and again the big question is "how the hell Bernie is going to get out of this". Once again our hero is out of luck with a quiet life and I enjoyed the author's playful foreshadowing and in-jokes. Minus 1 star as I still don't find his relationships with women and some dialogue that convincing.
tsenteme's review against another edition
4.0
Σταθερή αξία.
Χρήσιμες ιστορικές πληροφορίες και σε αυτό το βιβλίο. Η πιο σημαντική είναι τα εγκλήματα των σοβιετικών λίγο πριν το τέλος του πολέμου (1944-45), όταν οι Γερμανοί κάτοικοι της ανατολικής Πρωσίας έφευγαν μαζικά για την Γερμανία, λίγο πριν φτάσουν οι Ρώσοι, οι οποίοι βύθισαν υπερφορτωμένα πλοία, με μεγαλύτερο το Γκούστλοφ, με 10,000 περίπου επιβαίνοντες. Θεωρείται ένα από τα μεγαλύτερα εγκλήματα πολέμου, αν και σχετικά άγνωστο ακόμα και σήμερα. Ο καπετάνιος του υποβρυχίου Marinesko, παρασημοφορήθηκε σαν ήρωας πολέμου στη χώρα του.
Αρκετές πληροφορίες επίσης για Άγγλους κατάσκοπους της KGB.
Χρήσιμες ιστορικές πληροφορίες και σε αυτό το βιβλίο. Η πιο σημαντική είναι τα εγκλήματα των σοβιετικών λίγο πριν το τέλος του πολέμου (1944-45), όταν οι Γερμανοί κάτοικοι της ανατολικής Πρωσίας έφευγαν μαζικά για την Γερμανία, λίγο πριν φτάσουν οι Ρώσοι, οι οποίοι βύθισαν υπερφορτωμένα πλοία, με μεγαλύτερο το Γκούστλοφ, με 10,000 περίπου επιβαίνοντες. Θεωρείται ένα από τα μεγαλύτερα εγκλήματα πολέμου, αν και σχετικά άγνωστο ακόμα και σήμερα. Ο καπετάνιος του υποβρυχίου Marinesko, παρασημοφορήθηκε σαν ήρωας πολέμου στη χώρα του.
Αρκετές πληροφορίες επίσης για Άγγλους κατάσκοπους της KGB.
slhandy45's review against another edition
3.0
Some fun twists and turns, with a good bit of British spy history, but not as entertaining as other Bernie Gunther books.
didactylos's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.0
Disappointing. The idea is clever and the sense of place is powerful. However the book is tediously long with its insistence on the full tape process (not wanting to give any spoiler) also I spotted a certain lady was a 'wrong un' around three pages after she appeared yet Bernie tells her all manner of things that just would not happen. Unbelievable I am afraid. Is this another example of a good series being prolonged past its natural end?
zipperhead's review against another edition
2.0
I was disappointed by this book that it was not as good as previous books of this series.
mbondlamberty's review against another edition
4.0
Very entertaining read.
However not sure I want to read others in the series which for a 5 star would be necessary.
Finally the narrator is not terribly likable, but is entertaining.
However if you are a spy buff, especially about real spies, this would be one for you.
However not sure I want to read others in the series which for a 5 star would be necessary.
Finally the narrator is not terribly likable, but is entertaining.
However if you are a spy buff, especially about real spies, this would be one for you.