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bluedijon's review against another edition
challenging
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Exactly the type of mystery novel that shines an unflinching light onto the social patterns that cause evil. A side of history rarely examined but so, so urgent - the fact that there are any parallels between 1936 Germany and 2025 USA, let alone being able to recognize some of the trends, is horrifying and utterly necessary to know about. Not an easy book by any means, but a worthwhile one.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement, Death, Genocide, Hate crime, Homophobia, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Terminal illness, Torture, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Police brutality, Antisemitism, Kidnapping, Religious bigotry, Murder, and Sexual harassment
noonjinx's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
informative
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
4.0
First published in 1989 and the first of a dozen books so I don’t know why I’d never heard of this series. It’s hard boiled private detective first person noir so exactly my sort of thing. This one has the interesting twist of being set in Berlin just after the nazis took power. Most of the book is quite lighthearted considering the setting, but it gets considerably darker towards the end. The prose is smooth, the wisecracking anti-establishment narrator is a lot of fun, the plot tangles crime and politics, and the whole thing speeds along nicely. I will definitely read more.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape and Antisemitism
might_be_may's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gun violence, Rape, Sexual violence, Violence, and Murder
Moderate: Antisemitism
hystericalonion's review against another edition
dark
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.0
For some reason I just could not get into this book, despite it being very recommended. I did not find the main character lovable, and really did not like how the women were narrated. The mystery to solve wasn’t gripping. The end of the book almost feels like a different story, and that was far more interesting. However, some details were straight up horrifying and even as I finished it, my mind kept on going to them. Read the content warnings before starting the book!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racial slurs, Rape, and Antisemitism
Moderate: Torture
violentcello's review against another edition
dark
2.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape and Sexual violence